In 2017, Nicole Scherzinger starred as Johnny Castle’s (Colt Prattes) dance partner in a remake of the 1987 American romantic drama dance film Dirty Dancing.
However, she nearly turned down the role of Penny due to her opposition to abortion. “I was like a crazy thing because, my family, my papa’s a bishop and my family’s really hardcore against abortion,” she told The Daily Mail.
“So I got the role and I almost didn’t take it because I didn’t want to promote abortion, because my character has an abortion.”
Nicole Scherzinger as Penny and Colt Prattes as Johnny Castle in the 2017 American television film Dirty Dancing (Credit: ABC)
“But I was like, hopefully they can learn from you know her ways and I can be a positive influence. My mum got pregnant with me when she was 17 and had me when she was 18. She chose. Her parents were never going to let her have an abortion.”
“So I came out, so I just want to you know encourage everybody to keep your babies.” Scherzinger added: “We decided that maybe I could be a voice, that I could shed some light on the subject without being preachy.”
Colt Prattes and Nicole Scherzinger attend the “Dirty Dancing: The New ABC Musical Event” premiere screening and conversation at The Paley Center for Media on May 18, 2017, in Beverly Hills, California (Credit: The Photo Access / Cover Images)
Jennifer Grey, who famously portrayed Baby in the original 1987 film Dirty Dancing, turned down an offer to appear in the remake. In this new version, Abigail Breslin plays the role of Frances “Baby” Houseman.
When asked for the reason behind her decision, Grey told THR, “I was asked to do something on that show and I was flattered because I always want to be asked because it’s nice to want to be included. But for me, it would be sacrosanct for me to do it because it didn’t feel appropriate to me. It feels like if you’re going to do your own thing, do your own thing. I wouldn’t say [what role was offered] but I will tell you, it wasn’t Baby!”