Featured Image Credit: Ethan Miller / Staff/Paramount
Topics: Sylvester Stallone, Entertainment, Film and TV
Michael Slavin
Topics: Sylvester Stallone, Entertainment, Film and TV
Sylvester Stallone has been accused of calling background actors on the set of his show Tulsa King ‘ugly’, allegedly throwing various insults at them.
The Rocky actor has become embroiled in controversy, with one casting agency quitting the show following the claims.
However, a director on the show has denied the allegations.
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Rumors started regarding Stallone’s on set conduct following posts in Facebook casting groups about background actors being treated poorly.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, one screenshot said: “He shouted to the director to come over here. Lots of F bombs dropped.
“Stallone was very upset with the look of the background actors. Said they were hideous and old and fat.
“Next thing, people are being told to go back to holding and younger people were brought in.”
Another said: “While working on Tulsa King this week Sylvester Stallone was observed calling the director over and saying ‘what the f**k is up with these f***ing ugly background [actors].’
“He and the director proceeded to call certain people terrible names and laughed at them.
“‘Tub of lard,’ ‘fat guy with cane’, and was making fun of their weight and handicaps. Sly said, ‘Bring in pretty young girls to be around me.’
“Rose Locke has resigned and will finish out this final week to give them the opportunity to find someone else.
“BGs (background actors) need to stand together and NOT submit to Tulsa King moving forward to show this production we don’t support this kind of disrespect in Georgia.”
Rose Locke works for CatrettLockeCasting, with the company posting on Facebook to say: "We wanted to send you an update on the happenings here in our casting world. We have chosen to part ways with Tulsa King.
“We will be finishing up next week and the 12th will be our last day. We send well wishes to whomever takes over the show.
“We thank all of you great background artists for your continued support.”
The company has not specified that the decision is in response to the rumors.
While none of the multiple posts accusing Stallone and the director of fostering a ‘toxic environment’ specified who the director was, they have come forward and refuted the claims.
Craig Zisk told TMZ that the claims were false and no insults were aimed at extras.
Zisk said the background actors were ‘improperly cast’ and that he had told Locke the extras were supposed to be ‘young and hip’.
He claims this led to a dispute with Locke, telling she’d need to submit photos of actors moving forward.
The director added: “That’s the way I work and everyone I know works that way in extras casting.”
Sylvester Stallone has been contacted for comment.