Terence Howard discussed his eyebrow-raising Iron Man 2 exit for the first time on Thursday.

During an interview on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live to promote his latest film, The Best Man Holiday, Howard blamed his "friend" Robert Downey, Jr. for axing him from Iron Man 2.

After a caller asked Howard why he did not appear in the sequel, he said Downey, Jr. stole some of his contractual earnings and "pushed him out."

"The person that I helped become Iron Man, when it was time to re-up for the sequel, took the money that was supposed to go to me and pushed me out," he said.

Cohen questioned the statement and said he heard a different version of events.

"Oh really? The word was you wanted the same money as Downey," he said.

"We did a three picture deal. So that means you did the deal ahead of time," Howard explained. "There is going to be a certain amount for the first one, a certain amount for the second and a certain amount for the third. They came to me with the second and said, 'we will pay you one-eighth of what we contractually had for you because we think the second one will be successful, with or without you.'"

Howard, who was nominated for an Oscar for Hustle & Flow, dropped another bombshell claim: "And I called my friend that I helped get the first job and he didn't call me back for three months."

Howard played Co. James Rhodney Rhodes, who is a friend of Tony Starks, the billionaire-turned-superhero played by Downey, Jr. in the first Iron Man film. The 2008 movie grossed $585 million worldwide following its release. Marvel Studios reportedly said Howard would not return due to contractual differences. He was replaced by Don Cheadle who has since appeared in the following three Iron Man films.

Howard's latest film, The Best Man Holiday, arrived in theaters nationwide on Thursday. 

Watch Terence Howard discuss his Iron Man 2 exit on WWHL here.