*Madea may be on the run, but Tyler Perry is running into trouble with a couple of actor unions.
Deadline reports that Perry’s new stage play “Madea on the Run” has been put on the Actor’s Equity “do not work” list. The union is taking it a step further with telling its members that those who work on the show will face disciplinary action.
Actors Equity isn’t the only union with Perry on its bad side. Despite the fact that it doesn’t represent stage actors, SAG-AFTRA is taking a page out of Actors Equity’s book with telling its members not to work “Madea on the Run.”
SAG-AFTRA’s reason for the boycott involves a reciprocal agreement with Actor’s Equity known as Rule 9. Under the agreement, SAG-AFTRA members will not work on productions that are on Equity’s “do not work” list.
If the members violate Rule 9, SAG-AFTRA stated that it would be considered “conduct unbecoming a member.”
“Madea on the Run” is currently on a national tour around the county as producers for the play have yet to comment on the situation with the unions.
The SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity boycott marks the latest situation involving Perry and unfair employment standards.
Variety cites a matter between the entertainment mogul and the Writer’s Guild of America in 2008. During that time, the organization accused Perry of unfair labor after he fired four writers on “House of Payne” and “Meet the Browns.” The firing was allegedly in retaliation for efforts made by the writers to negotiate a WGAW contract for their fellow writers on the show.
As it turned out, undisclosed negotiations between Perry, a Directors Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild member, and the WGA ultimately resolved the dispute.
