BET has responded to Gabrielle Union’s million-dollar lawsuit just days after the news broke that the actress claimed the network broke their agreement with her for “Being Mary Jane.”
“While we hold Gabrielle Union in the highest esteem, we feel strongly that we are contractually well within our rights and are committed to reaching a swift and positive resolution in this matter,” reads a statement from BET.
Union claimed that she had negotiated filming no more than 13 episodes per season, but the network was trying to get out of that agreement by filming two season back to back of 10 episodes apiece. This was, Union claimed, an attempt to avoid having to pay her raise from one season to the next.
“Union never would have agreed to star in Being Mary Jane if BET executives hadn’t assured her they’d shoot no more than 13 episodes, according to the complaint. She’s seeking damages of at least $1 million and an order that her contract be amended to reflect that there be a maximum of 13 episodes per season,” a report claimed, citing claims that Union had been reluctant to make the move from film to TV and that a deciding factor in her decision to star in the show had been the reassurance that she would not have to do more than 13 episodes per season.