The television series “Tulsa King” finds itself embroiled in controversy surrounding the treatment of its background actors, leading to a casting agency quitting the production amid allegations of mistreatment by star Sylvester Stallone. An Atlanta-based casting agency, Catrett Locke Casting, announced its departure from the Paramount+ dramedy, citing claims of verbal abuse directed at background actors on set. While the claims have not been verified, the production company, 101 Studios, is actively investigating the allegations.
The controversy surfaced following screenshots circulating online, taken from public and private Facebook casting groups, detailing background actors’ experiences on the “Tulsa King” set. Allegations include Stallone fostering a “toxic environment” and making derogatory remarks about background actors’ appearances and disabilities. However, the show’s director, Craig Zisk, denies these allegations, stating that the extras were improperly cast and that he instructed the casting director to provide younger actors.
Amidst the controversy, various background actors have provided conflicting accounts of their experiences on set. While some corroborate the allegations of mistreatment, others claim to have observed nothing unusual and characterize their experience as typical for background acting.
Paramount+ has yet to comment on the situation, but a source close to the show indicates that they are investigating the claims and prioritize maintaining a fair and respectful workplace environment. Additionally, they emphasize their efforts to recreate scenes from the previous season creatively.
