The director of the Paramount+ dramedy series Tulsa King, Craig Zisk, has denied claims that various members of the production quit after actor Sylvester Stallone mocked them on set.
According to a recent report from THR, Atlanta-based casting agent Catrett Locke Casting confirmed this week that it was leaving the production of the series ahead of its second season after allegations were made that Stallone and director were mocking actors on set.
In response to the allegations, Zisk told TMZ that the crux of the problem is that the show was improperly cast. According to Zisk, he asked Casting Supervisor Rose Locke for “young and hip” background actors, but didn’t receive any.
As a result, Zisk has now said that although the actors were “polite and did their job,” he told Locke that they wanted photos submitted of the actors next time they were to work together, which led to a dispute. “That’s the way I work and everyone I know works that way in extras casting,” Zisk said.
Stallone alleged to have mocked actors for weight, looks, and disabilities
Problems first arose in a casting Facebook group named “Charleston SC Background Actors/Crew” as members began discussing their alleged poor treatment on set of the production.
“Several groups are talking about what happened on the set of Tulsa King filming in Atlanta,” said an administrator of the group. “At first I had hoped it was just a bad rumor started by [one] 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 [Sylvester 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.”
Among the allegations made against Stallone were that he was observed mocking the background actors along with Zisk. In screenshots that made their way online from a Facebook group, one moderator noted that Stallone could be seen calling “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.”
Another background actor on the CL Casting Facebook page also confirmed the instances, noting that 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.”
