Dear White People's Jeremy Tardy: I'm leaving the show “due to my experience with Lionsgate and their practices of racial discrimination"

Deadline

Tardy, who recurred on Dear White People and starred on the recently canceled 68 Whiskey, wrote about his departure on Facebook Friday: "After being offered to return for several episodes my team was notified that our counter offer would not be considered and that the initial offer was the 'best and final,'" Tardy wrote. "This news was disturbing because one of my white colleagues — being a true ally — revealed that they too had received the same initial offer and had successfully negotiated a counter offer. My team expressed this issue to Lionsgate and the producers maintained their position that the white actor was able to negotiate while I was not- regardless of my credits and experience. With this information six recurring cast members, along with myself, banded together on Monday, August 31st to pass on Lionsgate's initial offers. Our stance was to move powerfully as a unit in the negotiation process and, more importantly, to stand on principle because this is not simply a monetary matter." In response, Lionsgate told Deadline: “This was a purely financial negotiation regarding deal terms. Lionsgate is committed to equal treatment for all talent regardless of race, gender, age or sexual orientation.  We are very proud of Dear White People and its place in the national conversation about racial equality and social justice and we look forward to beginning production on its 4th season.”