Food Network hit Worst Cooks in America becomes first reality series to CEASE production because of STRIKES – as crew walks out mid-filming over pay row
Hit Food Network show Worst Cooks In America has become the first reality series to halt production due to strikes — after the crew walked out mid-production over a bitter pay gap, weeks after Bravo star Bethenny Frankel called on reality stars to join the SAG close – AFTRA strikes.
The long-running television series was set to film in New York last week, but The Food Network and Bright Road Productions declined to agree on a union contract with The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
IATSE confirmed the strike action on their official Instagram page on Friday, claiming that the crew stopped work in Long Island City because Bright Road Productions refused to provide “fair wages and benefits.”
“For far too long, unscripted TV crews have been without industry-standard wages and benefits! Now they are coming together to demand better.”
Out of action: Production of America’s worst cooks halted after the Food Network declined an invitation to talk about unions
Crew on strike: IATSE confirmed union action over ‘substandard wages’ and lack of benefits
“The crew is striking for recognition of their union, and their goal in turn is a union contract,” said IATSE spokesman Jonas Loeb. “The crew has been ready to negotiate since Wednesday.”
DailyMail.com has contacted the Food Network for comment.
“If we can run these reality shows, our members will be more grounded during these larger strikes,” an IATSE member wrote on Facebook last week.
It is clear that Worst Cooks In America was filming its 27th series when production was halted.
The previous season premiered earlier this month on August 6 and features a cast of single recruits eager to learn some cooking skills to impress future dates.
Led by chefs Jeff Mauro and Anne Burrell, the recruits compete in pairs, though only one will win the $25,000 grand prize.
Worst Cooks In America debuted in 2010 and sees between 12 and 16 contestants with poor cooking skills put to the test in a culinary boot camp where they learn a range of techniques from baking to seasoning and knife skills.
Previous celebrity editions have seen actor Jonathan Lipnicki, retired figure skater Tonya Harding and Orange Is The New Black star Taryn Manning take to the kitchen.
Action: Clearly IATSE and crew are on stage this week
Hollywood closed: SAG-AFTRA is also on strike along with WGA, which began industrial action in May
Long-running series: Worst Cooks In America is in its 26th season
In the celebrity edition of the show, the winning celebrity will receive a $50,000 prize to donate to the charity of their choice.
IATSE represents more than 168,000 entertainment industry professionals in the United States and Canada, including stagehands, front of house workers, cloakroom attendants, hair and makeup artists, film and television production technicians, broadcast technicians, stage artists, designers, animators and audiovisual professionals. technicians.
The union strives for strong representation and better wages, training, fringe benefits and general working conditions.
It has been over a month since members of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) went on strike after negotiations for new contracts with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP ) were broken off. down.
SAG-AFTRA, which represents about 160,000 actors in the US, joined their colleagues from the Writers Guild of America (WGA) in walking out on May 2.
In the reality TV space has been former Real Housewives of New York star Bethenny Frankel leading an army of stars in the battle for the remaining pay.
Earlier this month, she was among a number of stars who sent a letter to NBC and Bravo accusing the network of “covering up sexual assault, condoning revenge porn, exploiting minors, and refusing mental health care.”
Taking a stand: Bethenny Frankel has argued that reality stars have been fed ‘peanuts’ and been financially exploited by networks for years
The letter also made allegations of “grotesque and depraved abuse,” as well as allegations that stars were “mentally, physically and financially victimized.”
“Judgment Day has arrived,” it read, accusing network executives of deliberately harming the mental health of cast members by overloading them with alcohol and depriving them of food and sleep.
In a statement, NBC said it is “committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for cast and crew during our reality shows.”
“From the outset, we require our third-party manufacturing partners to have appropriate workplace policies and training in place,” said an NBCUniversal spokesperson.
“When complaints are brought to our attention, we work with our manufacturing partners to ensure that timely, appropriate action is or has been taken, including investigations, medical and/or psychological support, and other remedial action that may be warranted, such as personnel changes.
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More recently, reality show stars from NBC and Bravo have accused the networks of “grotesque and depraved” treatment on set. They have demanded to be released from their non-disclosure agreements so they can expose the “systemic rot” without fear of retaliation.
In a letter bomb sent to the broadcaster on Sunday, the celebrities’ lawyer Bryan J Freedman said the “scale and scope of the misconduct is greater than previously believed.
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It has been “impossible” for alleged victims to fully expose the “systemic rot” behind the scenes of the company because of illegal non-disclosure agreements that NBC “wields like a sword,” the attorney said.
Freedman, who has previously represented Seth Rogan and Julia Roberts, among others, said that “a significant number of cast and crew members in NBCUniversal’s unscripted programming” including NBC, Bravo and E! have made claims.