Tyrese Reveals He Was Originally Considered for The Boy Is Mine Music Video
Tyrese has revealed that he was originally in line to play the male lead in the iconic The Boy Is Mine music video by Brandy and Monica before the role ultimately went to Mekhi Phifer.
Speaking while honoring Brandy at the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women in Music Brunch, Tyrese shared the story publicly for the first time, reflecting on what he considered a major missed opportunity early in his career.
“I’ve never told this story publicly. I came to the video set, and then I found out they was going to go with Mekhi Phifer as the big man,” Tyrese recalled.
He explained that he had been fully prepared for the role, saying he got a fresh haircut and even completed 300 push-ups before arriving on set because he believed the music video would become the biggest milestone of his career following the success of his Coca-Cola commercial.
Although the role ultimately went to Mekhi Phifer, Tyrese said the experience became just one chapter in his journey. He later established himself as a successful R&B artist with multiple hit albums and also built an accomplished acting career, appearing in major film franchises and television projects.
His story serves as a reminder that missed opportunities do not always define a career. While he didn’t appear in one of R&B’s most memorable music videos, Tyrese went on to achieve lasting success in both music and film, proving that setbacks can often lead to even greater opportunities.
