Black actors on hit TV show Lost claim set was 'poisonous' and 'toxic' trends now
Black actors and screenwriters have accused the showrunners of hit TV show Lost of creating a 'toxic' and 'racist' work environment.
The series, that followed the lives of survivors of a plane crash as they struggled to exist on a mysterious island, became an instant hit when it aired in 2004.
At its peak the show brought in an average of 16 million viewers per episode, running for six series before wrapping in 2010.
As part of a new book by Maureen Ryan, some who worked on the show, either as writers, actors or in other behind-the-scenes roles, have revealed their shocking claims of racism and abuses of power on the show.
The claims against showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse include firing an actor after he raised concerns involving race, and making overtly racist comments that contributed towards a toxic work environment. Both deny the allegations.
Lost, the show that followed the lives of plane crash survivors as they struggled to exist on a mysterious island, became an instant hit
Carlton Cuse denies making or hearing of any of the comments on the Lost set
Damon Lindelof said he was 'shocked and appalled and surprised' to hear the allegations
Harold Perrineau, who played Michael Dawson, one of the main characters in the first two series, claims that he was fired after raising questions of how his black character was treated compared to his white counterparts.
Perrineau told Ryan that he raised concerns with Lindelof and Cuse about his character who appeared to not care for his son, which he claimed furthered a racial stereotype.
He also raised concerns that white characters were being prioritized in the narrative and screen time over cast members of color.
The actor said he was swiftly axed from the show following the conversations.
'I was f***** up about it. I was like, "Oh, I just got fired, I think,"' Perrineau told Ryan.
According to Perrineau, the response from Cuse was, '"Well, you said you don’t have enough work here, so we’re letting you go."'
'It was all very much, "How dare you?"' he recalled.
Cuse told Vanity Fair, which has serialized part of the book, that he denies the allegations.
Multiple sources claim they heard Lindelof later say that Perrineau 'called me
