Empire actor Terrence Howard sued his talent agency, Creative Artists Agency LLC (CAA), accusing the agency of fraud, ABC 7 reported.
Howard announced his suit on Friday in a press conference.
In the lawsuit, the 54-year-old veteran actor claimed CAA deceitfully induced him to accept an insulting salary for his role on the popular FOX show, (I) Empire, co-starring alongside Taraji P. Henson.
Represented by attorneys at the Cochran Law Firm, Howard allegedly knew CAA packaged the project, but he didn’t know the extent of how deeply they were involved in the show. CAA reportedly had financial interests in the project and represented the actors and production companies. Despite their immense influence on the show, they allegedly underpaid their star.
“Mr. Howard will be filing a lawsuit based upon the duties his agents that were simply failed, time and time again,” James Bryant, an attorney with the Cochran Law Firm, said. “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.”
His lawyers claimed the agency coaxed Howard into believing the salary they pushed was equitable to his work on the hit show.
“I trusted CAA to look after me, and they looked after themselves,” the (I) Hustle & Flow actor said. “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. I can’t imagine that CAA would allow them to be misused and treated in the way that they allowed Fox to misuse me or to be paid the way that I was paid.”
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Howard’s lawsuit highlighted how (I) Empire’s pilot episode garnered nearly 10 million views, and the show would obtain instant success, earning high praise from critics. And Howard’s role as Luscious Lyons, a music industry kingpin, contributed to that.
Although unspecified, Howard is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
