When it comes to success in the Ross family, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree where Tracee Ellis Ross is concerned. Just like her mother Diana Ross, she’s a success story in her own right. But despite her rise to stardom as an accomplished actress, unfortunately, women still face difficulties receiving fair treatment in Hollywood.
Today, the Black-ish star is making headlines due to controversy surrounding the pay gap between her and her co-star Anthony Anderson. Since Ross and Anderson portray a married couple on the show, most viewers probably assume they’d be considered equals, but apparently that’s not the case where the financial breakdown is concerned. Now, details about the financial breakdown have been revealed and the pay gap is much wider than you’d probably guess.
‘Significantly Less’:
According to Hollywood Reporter, it has been revealed that Tracee Ellis Ross is paid “significantly less” than Anthony Anderson for their roles on the ever-popular sitcom Black-ish. Although the exact numbers have yet to be revealed, the pay gap is reportedly enough for Ross to consider stepping back from the show.
Exploring Other Options?:
Due to the disheartening pay gap, inside sources claim Black-ish could be faced with a few creative complications if Tracee Ellis Ross doesn’t see a pay raise. For those who don’t know, the show is currently undergoing contract negotiations for the upcoming fifth season. The talented actress is reportedly considering appearing in fewer episodes of Black-ish to have the flexibility to appear on other shows to make up for the deficit.
With negotiations for the fifth season ongoing, sources say Ellis Ross feels that if she isn’t brought up to Anderson’s level, she may opt to appear in fewer episodes to make up the disparity by guesting on another show. The tactic has split opinions within Time’s Up, with some worried that it’s more a retreat than a forward-looking solution (fitting in extra work isn’t always feasible, and often an actress wouldn’t earn as much guesting as she would as a network star). A network source says a new deal will significantly increase her compensation and cautioned that Anderson and Ellis Ross’ roles aren’t equal given that he has been attached to Black-ish from the start and is an executive producer. Still, until a few weeks ago, this type of candid conversation would never have taken place outside an actress’ agency.
With all of the controversy surrounding the actors’ pay gap, the network is reportedly working to negotiate a better deal for Ross. Hopefully, the negotiations are in Ross’ favor. Her fight for equality could definitely open doors for other actresses.
