Thursday, March 28, 2024

‘Dear White People’ Actor Jeremy Tardy Quits Show Over Discrimination and Pay Disparity

Netflix’s ‘Dear White People’

*“Dear White People” star Jeremy Tardy took to Twitter on Friday (Sept. 11) to speak out about the racial discrimination he said he faced with Lionsgate while negotiating his contract for the Netflix show.

The actor explained in a series of tweets that he will not be taking part in the fourth and final season “due to my experience with Lionsgate and their practices of racial discrimination,” he wrote.

“Unfortunately I will not be joining NETFLIX’s Dear White People for its fourth and final season due to my experience with Lionsgate and their practices of racial discrimination,” Tardy began the a series of tweets. “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.”

READ MORE: COMMENTARY: Dear White People, Do Us Blacks a Favor and Use The ‘N Word’ at Home, Not on Social Media. Thanks!

He went on to reveal that he and several cast members banded together to reject Lionsgate’s pay inequality. “… six recurring cast members, along with myself, banded together on Monday, August 30th to pass on Lionsgate’s initial offers,” Tardy wrote. “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.”

Tardy said he was undermined by side deals that the company made to members of the group. 

“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 led to some individuals taking deals before the collective group received a fair and equitable negotiation process,” he explained. 

“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,” Tardy added. 

Read his full post below. 

JTPART1 JTPART2 'Dear White People' Actor Jeremy Tardy Won’t Return for Season 4, Alleges Racial Discrimination

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