Featured Image Credit: NBC / Paramount
Topics: Sylvester Stallone, TV and Film
Michael Slavin
Sylvester Stallone has been accused of being horrible to background actors on the set of his show Tulsa King, even calling one a ‘tub of lard’.
The allegations have caused controversy, with one part of the show’s production even quitting following the accusations.
The Rocky actor has been accused of calling background actors on Tulsa King ‘ugly’, according to posts in local Facebook casting groups.
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According to The Hollywood Reporter, one 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**king 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.”
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Another stated: “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.”
The director in question was not named in the various accusations posted, but Craig Zisk has come out and responded.
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Zisk told TMZ the claims were not true, and that in reality the issue was that background actors for the episode were older than requested.
He claims he requested actors that were ‘young and hip’, and when they weren’t, he gave negative feedback to the casting agency.
Zisk said this led to a dispute, telling the casting agent 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.”
The casting agent in question, Rose Locke, works for CatrettLockeCasting.
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They posted on Facebook to say they had ceased working in casting for Tulsa King, which is currently filming its second season.
CatrettLockeCasting said: “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.”
LADbible Group has contacted Sylvester Stallone for a comment.