LOS ANGELES, Dec. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Film star and
comedian Faizon Love today asked a
California court to order three
top current and former Universal executives to provide depositions
about their roles in directing the studio's racist actions in
marketing the 2009 film "Couples Retreat," according to a motion
filed today by Love's law firm
Browne George Ross O'Brien Annaguey & Ellis LLP
("BGR").
The motion in Superior Court in Los
Angeles seeks expedited discovery from Adam Fogelson, the former Chairman of Universal
Studios; Ron Meyer, the now retired
chairman of NBCUniversal; and Michael
Moses, the current President of Worldwide Marketing for
Universal Pictures.
The lawsuit and motion say it is believed that all three studio
executives were responsible for the removal of Love's name and
image, along with that of co-star Kali
Hawk, from international marketing posters for the hit film.
They were the only Black stars of the film, and Love's contract
with Universal guaranteed him star billing on par with six of his
co-stars, including in advertising and promotional materials for
the film.
Love and Hawk appeared in those materials in the U.S., but were
erased from international efforts. The studio also refused to
invite Love to participate in the European press tour for the
film's initial foreign release, the suit states.
"It's vital that we are able to question these powerful industry
executives under oath as soon as possible," said Love's lead
attorney, Eric George, of Browne
George Ross O'Brien Annaguey & Ellis LLP ("BGR"). "Their
testimony will show exactly how Universal Studios was and is
practicing overt racism that perpetuates the second-class treatment
of Black talent in Hollywood – and
how that racism begins at the very top."
Love's legal complaint alleges that all three executives played
a role in either carrying out this racist treatment of Love, or
making false promises to Love in the wake of his removal from the
poster. Fogelson apologized for the racist poster and assured Love
the racist poster would not be used going forward – yet in
July 2020, Love discovered Universal
continues to use the racist posters in direct violation of his
contract, according to the lawsuit.
The Lawsuit alleges that Meyer and Fogelson promised Love more
starring opportunities if he did not publicly or legally pursue the
issue – yet none have materialized. By nature of his position then
and now Moses is believed to have some responsibly for Love's
removal and the studio's policy of removing Black actors from
international posters. Given that these actions have gone
uncorrected for 12 years, Love felt he was left with no choice but
to sue Universal for breach of contract as well as fraud and
violations of California's Unruh
Civil Rights Act for intentional discrimination, because Love is
Black.
A Decade of Second-Class Treatment
Love has been a successful performer as a stand-up comedian,
film and television actor, and voice-over artist for more than 30
years. He has more than 75 acting credits – including lead roles in
the hit holiday film "Elf" and the cult classic "Friday." Because
of his experience and success, he was chosen for a lead role in
"Couples Retreat." He agreed to a lesser salary for the film
because he believed the role would provide him an opportunity for
additional high-profile film and TV roles in the future, the suit
states.
In 2009 Universal Studios was within the corporate structure of
the General Electric Co., and the decision-makers who removed Love
from the advertising were under the supervision of Fogelson, who is
now chairman of STX Films, the suit alleges. The lawsuit also
alleges that Fogelson and the film's producer, Scott Stuber, now head of original programming
for Netflix, personally promised Love the racist poster would be
taken out of publication and they would provide new opportunities
to him.
The lawsuit alleges that the wrong perpetrated against Love in
2009 continues to this day now under Universal's current ownership,
Comcast. Comcast owns Universal through the NBCUniversal
Film and Entertainment division of its wholly owned
subsidiary NBCUniversal, which both then and now has a stark
lack of diversity, according to the lawsuit.
Continuing to see the "Love-less" promotional materials on
websites around the world – including Europe, Latin
America and Asia – as well
as on major websites like MSN.com and Sonychannel.com, has resulted
in both lost professional opportunities for Love and an immensely
painful reminder of the walls Universal and other studios erect to
stymie Black success.
"This film was a huge success
for Universal, but instead of honoring my work and my contract, the
studio chose to render me invisible to billions of moviegoers
around the world," Love said. "They took away from me an
opportunity to expand my profile across the world, and that is
exactly what I contracted for when I agreed to appear in the
movie."
Love said he filed the lawsuit "not just for the wrong committed
against me, but for the discriminatory practices against Blacks and
people of color in the entertainment industry. I want to ensure
that future generations don't have to endure the racism and
whitewashing that I have experienced."
The lawsuit is especially significant in 2020, in the wake of
the racial justice movement and the Motion Picture Academy's pledge
to address the historic lack of diversity in Academy Award
nominations spotlighted by the #OscarsSoWhite movement.
Contact: Sam Singer
Singer Associates Public Relations
singer@singersf.com
Cell: 415.336.4949
Or
Andre Watson
The Purple Agency
agw.consults@gmail.com
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SOURCE Browne George Ross O’Brien Annaguey & Ellis LLP