Dear White People actor quits show after accusing Netflix of racial discrimination
14 September 2020, 15:38
Dear White People cast announce season 4 is officially happening
Dear White People actor Jeremy Tardy has quit the Netflix show over a pay dispute and racial discrimination involving production company Lionsgate.
Star of Netflix's political-comedy show Dear White People, Jeremy Tardy, has quit over a pay dispute, along with reports of racial discrimination.
The actor, known for playing Rashid Mburu, announced he was leaving before the fourth season in a series of tweets.
The news came after behind-the-scenes negotiations about pay with production company Lionsgate, and Rashid's white co-stars being able to negotiate their own deals while he was told his initial offer was 'best and final'.
READ MORE: Dear White People Delivered The Realest Gay Sex Scene Of All Time
He also added that he and his costars had banded together to take a stand against Lionsgate and prove that it was more than just about money.
"We were all aware of the notorious pay disparities between people of color and our white colleagues on Netflix and Lionsgate shows; so this made it blatantly obvious," he said.
“Politically correct lip service and symbolic gestures do not absolve you of the daily responsibility of doing business in a fair and equitable manner. The fact that this has occurred behind the scenes of a show which purports to address systemic issues of racism and discrimination displays the very epitome of hypocrisy. Lionsgate. Netflix. I see you. We see you.”
Jeremy's message was particularly powerful, after Netflix recently showed its support for the Black Lives Matter movement, and vowed to make the platform a better space for black creators.
Read the thread here...
Unfortunately I will not be joining NETFLIX’s Dear White People for its fourth and final season
— Jeremy Tardy (@Jeremy_Tardy) September 11, 2020
due to my experience with Lionsgate and their practices of racial discrimination.
After being offered to return for several episodes my team was notified that our counter offer would
not be considered and that the initial offer was the “best and final”. This news was disturbing because one of my white colleagues — being a true ally — revealed that they too had received the same initial offer and had successfully negotiated a counter offer. My team expressed
— Jeremy Tardy (@Jeremy_Tardy) September 11, 2020
this issue to Lionsgate and the producers maintained their position that the white actor was able to negotiate while I was not- regardless of my credits and experience.
— Jeremy Tardy (@Jeremy_Tardy) September 11, 2020
With this information six recurring cast members, along with myself, banded together on Monday, August 30th
to pass on Lionsgate's initial offers.
— Jeremy Tardy (@Jeremy_Tardy) September 11, 2020
Our stance was to move powerfully as a unit in the negotiation process and, more importantly,
to stand on principle because this is not simply a monetary matter. We were all aware of the notorious pay disparities between people of color and
our white colleagues on Netflix and Lionsgate shows; so this made it blatantly obvious. However, our collective bargaining power was undermined with side deal offers and lack of transparency. These tactics
— Jeremy Tardy (@Jeremy_Tardy) September 11, 2020
led to some individuals taking deals before the collective group received
a fair and equitable negotiation process.
— Jeremy Tardy (@Jeremy_Tardy) September 11, 2020
These companies have recently released statements and even donations in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. I am calling out their shameful practices of discrimination and racial inequality with regard to how they have
historically undervalued and lowballed people of color. Politically correct lip service and symbolic gestures do not absolve you of the daily responsibility of doing business in a fair and equitable manner.
— Jeremy Tardy (@Jeremy_Tardy) September 11, 2020
The fact that this has occurred
— Jeremy Tardy (@Jeremy_Tardy) September 11, 2020
behind the scenes of a show which purports to address systemic issues of racism and discrimination displays the very epitome of hypocrisy.
Lionsgate. Netflix. I see you. We see you.
It has also come to light that despite forming an allyship with six co-stars, deals were negotiated behind closed doors with a "lack of transparency", and some of the cast allegedly accepted "deals before the collective group received a fair and equitable negotiation process."
Jeremy played Kenyan college student Rashid over 11 episodes in the show. The series takes place at a fictional Ivy League college and addresses issues around race and politics today. The show is due to release its fourth and final season next year, but this could certainly throw things off track.
Netflix have declined requests for comment on the situation.
