Matthew Lawrence SaysH-E Double Hockey SticksCostar Gabrielle Union 'Reported' Him for Not Wanting to Rehearse

Mar. 15, 2025

Matthew Lawrence and Gabrielle Union.Photo:David Livingston/Getty Images; Maya Dehlin Spach/FilmMagic

David Livingston/Getty Images; Maya Dehlin Spach/FilmMagic

Matthew Lawrenceis looking back on the awkward misunderstanding that ledGabrielle Unionto report him to the director of their 1999 Disney comedyH-E Double Hockey Sticks.

Lawrence, 45, recently joined hostsWill FriedleandSabrina Bryanon their podcastMagical Rewindfor a deep dive into the movie, which originally premiered as part of ABC’sThe Wonderful World of Disney.H-E Double Hockey Stickscenters on hockey player Dave Heinrich (Lawrence) who sells his soul to a demon (Friedle) in exchange for his team winning the Stanley Cup. The film also stars Union as Dave’s guardian angel.

“She wanted to rehearse and I was like, ‘No, I’m good,’ ” Lawrence, 45, recalled.

Matthew Lawrence and Gabrielle Union in 1999’s ‘H-E Double Hockey Sticks’.Disney Enterprises, Inc

Disney Enterprises, Inc

“At that point in my mind, I really loved memorizing the lines, knowing all the beats, but hated running it, because it felt like it took all the freshness out of it. Especially with comedy,” theBrotherly Lovestar explained. “And she got angry and went and reported me to the director and the studio.”

Lawrence said the incident was the only time in his career when his on-set behavior led to a meeting with the powers that be. “Usually I’m like the advocate and I’m fighting for kids and like, you know, women’s rights,” he explained. “And this is the only time in my life where I was called into the office for something I did on set. And I had no clue.”

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Matthew Lawrence and Will Friedle in 1999’s ‘H-E Double Hockey Sticks’.Disney Enterprises, Inc

Lawrence didn’t go into detail about who he met with, but did recall being questioned about why he’d refused to rehearse with Union.

“I’m like, ‘Oh God, I just I wanted to keep it fresh!’ ” he recalled explaining. “I was embarrassed.”

A representative for Union, 52, did not yet return PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Lawrence added that the point of the story was to illustrate Union’s confidence in her own star power, even at that early point in her career.

“I remember the same thing,” Friedle, 48, agreed. “I remember people saying, ‘Oh, she’s gonna be — she’s gonna be huge. Like on the set, people were like, ‘She’s gonna be big.’ ”

source: people.com