Terrence Howard, known for his role in Fox’s “Empire,” has filed a lawsuit against Creative Artists Agency (CAA), claiming he was unfairly compensated compared to his white counterparts.
In a recent interview on the set of his late film, Howard explained the motivation behind the lawsuit, shedding light on the alleged discrepancies in pay.
“I trusted CAA to look after me, and they looked after themselves,” Howard stated. “I never received the compensation as a producer or any of those things that are immediately given or asked for by agents of white actors.”
The lawsuit, filed in December, alleges that CAA lowballed Howard while negotiating deals for his role in “Empire.”
Howard cited examples of other actors, specifically those from “Big Bang Theory,” receiving significantly higher pay despite lower viewer numbers.
“We had 28 million viewers, and these jokers are paying me $325,000 an episode,” Howard exclaimed. “I didn’t know that in the packaging deal my agents were incentivized to keep my pay low.”
Howard claims that CAA sent him a check for $666 without explanation when he inquired about his compensation. He interpreted this as a threat and vowed not to stay silent about the issue, expressing concern for other Black artists facing similar treatment.
Additionally, Howard is facing a tax debt totaling nearly $1 million accumulated between 2010 and 2019. Alleged voicemails left by Howard to a Justice Department lawyer suggested a refusal to pay taxes, citing historical injustices against Black people in the United States.
“In truth, the entire United States should, by default, become the property of the descendants of slaves,” Howard reportedly said in the voicemail. “But since you do not have the ability [or] the courage to do it, let’s try this in court.”
The alleged threats prompted the Justice Department to open an investigation, the results of which are currently unknown.
Meanwhile, Howard’s lawsuit against CAA remains ongoing as he seeks fair compensation for his contributions.
