Terrence Howard, 54, has filed a complaint against Creative Artists Agency LLC for duping him into accepting a lower-paying position on the smash show Empire.
The complaint filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court stated: “Despite this feeling of trust, it would be years later that Howard would discover that CAA … placed their own financial interests, as well as the interests of the production companies they also represented, ahead of his own.”
Howard was well aware that CAA was being compensated for wrapping the project.
The actor was oblivious to the difficulties that CAA was dealing with in the midst of all the chaos.
They were also in charge of representing the performers and production firms.
“Mr. Howard will be filing a lawsuit based upon the duties his agents that were simply failed, time and time again,” said attorney James Bryant.
“This is a man who was the lead actor to, once again, one of the most successful television shows in network history where Fox was making over $125 million a year in just ad revenue alone. This man was being underpaid time and time again,” he contended.
The suit also alleged that the performers want to be compensated for the time and effort they put into their job.
Meanwhile, the producers want to set a budget cap and keep it ‘as low as reasonably possible.’
Attorneys alleged that CAA persuaded the actor that his remuneration was acceptable for his work on Empire.
The actor adamantly ‘stated’ that he “trusted CAA to look after me, and they looked after themselves.”
He went on to explain, “I can’t say that this was a racial issue, but I cannot imagine that white actors that are comparable to the numbers and accolades and the world recognition that I have.”
Howard, well known for his roles in Crash and Hustle & Flow, filed the complaint in search of restitution and damages.
Eyewitness News requested a statement from CAA and is still waiting to hear back.
According to the Cochran Law Firm, the case does not contemplate or specify a sum for damages at this time.
They did, however, state that it will be assessed later.
According to the lawsuit, Empire’s first pilot attracted about 10 million viewers, making it Fox’s highest-rated debut in three years.