Siedah Garrett Just Exposed Wild Truth About What Dennis Edwards Wasn’t Chewing on in ‘Don’t Look Any Further’ Video!

If you’ve spent any time in the deeper corners of YouTube (or was alive in 1984 or old enough to remember), you’ve likely stumbled upon the late, great Dennis Edwards blankly starring directly into the camera and your soul in his “Don’t Look Any Further” music video. In all of its low-budget gloriousness, the video became viral before that was even a thing as viewers assumed for over 40 years that Edwards was just aggressively chewing a stubborn piece of gum—until now.

Don’t look any further for the real backstory on why Edwards was making those now iconic facial expressions after co-star Siedah Garrett just shared the tea.

During a recent appearance on Deon Cole’s “Funny Knowing You” series, the comedian asked Garrett about the video, which she said was filmed “in the basement of Motown, and I think it cost $11.57 at the time.” Asking the questions everyone really want to know, Cole asked Garrett whether Edwards was on drugs, specifically cocaine.

“He was on something. I don’t know,” Garrett answered, because Cole—like everyone else—noticed how bizarre “his mouth was moving.” That’s when Garrett cleared up the decades-long rumor.

“The director said [to Edwards], ‘Can you put your gum here?’ He said, ‘I ain’t got no gum, I ain’t got no gum!’ It was insane,” Garrett answered, hilariously mimicking Edwards. Cole was taken aback, but not surprised. “I knew it! All these years I was sitting up like, ‘He on cocaine,’” Cole said. He added how he always thought Edwards had gum in his mouth, but acknowledged he never technically saw it.

“So did the director,” Garrett quipped.

Garrett clarified she didn’t know what exactly Edwards was allegedly on, but now we all know it wasn’t bubblegum.

As you might expect, folks shared their two cents on Instagram.

“Dennis Edwards jaw walked so Bobby Brown could do that kick out the helicopter,” one Instagram user said.

A second person commented, “We knew DAMN well he wasn’t chewing gum!”

A third said, “”I ain’t got no gum” is about to be my new favorite random line.”

Beyond the hilarious revelation, fans couldn’t get over how Deon Cole is practically Dennis Edwards’ twin. “It’s him sitting there looking just like him! They have a slight resemblance,” one person said. Another agreed, writing, “Deon look just like that mane.”

“Don’t Look Any Further” was released in April 1984 by Motown from the singer’s debut album by the same name. It peaked at No. 2 on the US Billboard Black Singles chart and No. 72 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Decades after cementing his place in R&B history, Edwards died at an Illinois hospital on February 1, 2018, after battling a severe case of meningitis. He was 74.