Union alleges that BET is trying to cram seasons four and five into one run, thus avoiding having to pay her a raise.
American actress Gabrielle Union is launching a lawsuit against BET for violating the terms of contract for the TV show ‘Being Mary Jane’.
The 42 year old actress is suing BET and Breakdown Productions for what is believed to be a sum of $1 million, claiming breach of contract and negligent misrepresentation, as per a lawsuit filed on Tuesday (October 11th) in a Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Court documents obtained by E! News and other media outlets allege that BET is attempting to “fraudulently extend” Union’s contract but not remunerating her in return.
Gabrielle Union is suing BET over her 'Being Mary Jane' contract
According to reports, Union’s contract says BET will never film more than 13 episodes per season of ‘Being Mary Jane’, but is now trying to film two 10-episode seasons, constituting seasons four and five, back-to-back and effectively only pay her for one series.
By doing so, the lawsuit alleges BET wants to avoid giving Union a contractually agreed raise per episode (it apparently says she will earn $150,000 per episode in season four and $165,000 per episode in season five), and at the same time extend its option to engage her services for another year.
In a statement, Union’s lawyer Marty Singer said: “We filed this lawsuit because of BET’s outrageous conduct toward its number one star on its highest rated show.”
BET retaliated in a counter-statement released the same day, arguing: “While we hold Gabrielle Union in the highest esteem, we feel strongly that we are contractually well within our rights and are committed to reaching a swift and positive resolution in this matter.”
Union’s suit also claims that, back in 2012, she was promised that ‘Being Mary Jane’ would never shoot more than 13 episodes per season. “At that time, Union was a motion picture star and did not want to commit to a typical network television series schedule with 20 or more episodes per season, because doing so would make it difficult for her to continue to work in motion pictures.”
The star is seeking damages of at least $1 million and an explicit amendment to her contract to the effect that there be a maximum of 13 episodes per season.
More: Gabrielle Union asks ‘Who’s Stacey Dash?’ – and Twitter responds
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