Hollywood Economics: White Supporting Actress Reportedly Gets Paid More Than Black Cast

by R. Asmerom

The once-defunct and now-resurrected series “The Game” is garnering attention not only for its comeback on BET but also for reports that supporting actress Brittany Daniel is getting paid much more than the stars of the show Tia Mowry and Pooch Hall as well as the rest of the three cast members.

Media Take Out reports that Daniel, who is the only white cast member, is being paid $75,000 per episode, while Tia Mowry is getting $50,000 per episode.

The outrage over this blatant discrepancy is expected considering that BET is producing the show. The irony, right? Daniel obviously has an aggressive agent who fought on her behalf but like with many seemingly economic injustices, the explanation for Daniel’s pay rate has something to do with supply and demand. In Hollywood, there aren’t many outlets for Black actors. Although Daniel is not a power player herself, she still has the leverage to say she has many other options, while her castmates don’t. This is all speculation of course. But do you think, given the experiences of many of those Black cast members with the exception of Mowry, that they had the courage to ask for more money or risk leaving the show and be faced with less options?

Regardless, the unequal distribution of wealth on set is sure to breed contempt in one way or another. If the reports are indeed true,  BET should have taken a stand in this case, as a network targeting Black America, and supported a symbolically fair production. It’s one thing for a supporting cast member to make more than its star, it’s another when a production compromises its team by yielding to one minor member.