Sylvester Stallone Allegedly Mocked “Ugly” Actors on ‘Tulsa King’ Set; Director Denies Claims
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Tulsa King is embroiled in a controversy surrounding the treatment of its background actors.
An Atlanta-based casting agency has quit the Paramount+ dramedy amid claims posted online that background actors were verbally abused on the set by star Sylvester Stallone. The show is produced by 101 Studios, which is actively looking into the claims, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. At this point, the claims have not been verified, and the show’s director, Craig Zisk, is denying it ever happened.
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This is an evolving story, but here’s what’s known so far.
Catrett Locke Casting confirmed on its Facebook page Monday that it was parting ways with Tulsa King, which recently started production on season two.
The admin of another casting group, Charleston SC Background Actors/Crew, added on Facebook: “Several groups are talking about what happened on the set of Tulsa King filming in Atlanta. At first I had hoped it was just a bad rumor started by 1 person who may have felt some type of way; but there have been countless people who were on set and have stated what they saw, how they were treated, etc. Sadly Sly Stallone and crew made things miserable for the background artists and many have said the set was completely unprofessional and a total mess. Although I have not personally worked with Rose Locke & CL Casting…I have great respect for them for pulling out of the project and looking out for their background artists.”
The move came amid screenshots circulating online taken from public and private Facebook casting groups about background actor experiences on the Tulsa King set. In two that were posted on X by TV writer Julie Benson (Star Trek: Prodigy) — who is not affiliated with Tulsa King — a casting director allegedly accused Stallone of fostering a “toxic environment,” while the moderator of a private Facebook group made more detailed accusations.
“I have been informed of certain things that happened on Thursday … I came the 2nd day (Friday) to see what was happening,” Rose Locke allegedly wrote in a post that was shared via screenshot. “At the end of the day I resigned because it was a clear toxic environment that I was not comfortable putting myself or background artists in. I will finish out this coming week and someone else will take over. I want to apologize for anything you experienced. I would also like you to text me … what you experience, saw or heard, I will be sending the info to HR.”
The author of a second attached screenshot from another FB group moderator said this: “While working on TK this week Sylvester Stallone was observed calling the director over and saying ‘what the F* is up with these F**** 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 need to stand together and NOT submit to TK moving forward to show this production we don’t support this kind of disrespect in GA.”
Another background actor echoed on that claim on the CL Casting Facebook page: “I was there, right behind Mr. Stallone. He shouted to the director to come over here. Lot’s 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’s name was not mentioned in the screenshot. Yet Zisk, the episode’s director and executive producer, denied the reports to TMZ, saying the extras were improperly cast. Zisk claims he told Locke the extras were supposed to be “young and hip,” but the background actors who showed up were older. Zisk said he used the actors for the scene anyway and that they were “polite and did their jobs,” but afterward told Locke she’d need to submit photos of actors moving forward, leading to a dispute. “That’s the way I work and everyone I know works that way in extras casting,” Zisk reportedly told her.
In addition, other background actors who claim they were at the shoot say they didn’t observe anything unusual. “I observed nothing out of the ordinary, nothing different than any of the other Background Acting experiences I have been involved in,” wrote one. “I noticed nothing out of the ordinary onset,” added another. “One of the directors was a bit feisty with his ‘let’s be quiet OR keep it down so we can work’ yet, I have heard that on every set. Not a big deal.” And a third: “There were some remarks made that i personally heard … things could have been handled more tactfully, but it’s their show.”
Paramount+ recently announced that Zisk (Weeds) is set to direct and executive produce the show’s second season. Production on the show’s second season recently got underway in Atlanta and Oklahoma.
Locke hasn’t confirmed the screenshots or replied to requests for comment, only confirming their company has parted ways with the production. Stallone and Paramount+ have had no comment. But a source close to the show said they only recently became aware of the claims and are looking into it and pride themselves on a fair and respectful workplace. Also, that they were “creatively trying to re-create and ensure we match scenes from last season.”
Tulsa King follows a mobster (Stallone) who tries to build a new crime empire in Oklahoma after being released from prison. Its debut season was one of Paramount+’s most watched shows.
The production has had behind-the-scenes drama previously, when showrunner Terence Winter left the show at the end of the first season, having clashed with executive producer Taylor Sheridan. Winter then returned to the production for season two as a writer and executive producer without the showrunner duties, and Zisk was brought aboard as a director and EP.
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