Gabrielle Union has filed a lawsuit against BET, accusing the network of extending the episodes of “Being Mary Jane” in an effort to squeeze more out her contract.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Union — the star of the primetime drama series — claims BET agreed that it would not produce more than 13 episodes per season but now is trying to tape two 10-episode seasons back-to-back to “cram all of the episodes into a single season in order to fraudulently extend the term of Ms. Union’s contract.”
Michael Ealy joins the cast of ‘Being Mary Jane’ for season 4
Martin Singer, the actress’ attorney, said the network is combining seasons four and five to avoid paying his client’s contractual raise and to extend its option to engage her services for another year, THR reports. Under her contract, Union is set to receive $150,000 per episode for season four and $165,000 per episode for season five.
Union is suing the network and Breakdown Productions for breach of contract and negligent misrepresentation.
The actress is seeking $1 million in damages and is demanding that her contract be amended to reflect that there be a maximum of 13 episodes per season.
Filming for “Being Mary Jane” began last month. BET has yet to comment on the lawsuit.