Black actors and screenwriters have accused the showrunners of hit TV series Lost of creating a “toxic” and “racist” work environment.
The series, which followed the lives of plane crash survivors as they struggle to exist on a mysterious island, became an instant hit when it aired in 2004.
At its peak, the show averaged 16 million viewers per episode, spanning six series before ending in 2010.
As part of a new book by Maureen Ryan, some who worked on the show, whether as writers, actors or in other behind-the-scenes roles, have come forward with their shocking claims of racism and abuse of power in the series.
Claims against showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse include the firing of an actor after raising concerns about race and overtly racist comments that contributed to a toxic work environment. Both deny the allegations.
Lost, the show that followed the lives of plane crash survivors as they struggle to exist on a mysterious island, became an instant hit
Carlton Cuse denies making or hearing any of the comments on the set of Lost
Damon Lindelof said he was “shocked, appalled and surprised” to hear the allegations
Harold Perrineau, who played Michael Dawson, one of the main characters in the first two series, says he was fired after raising questions about how his black character was being treated compared to his white counterparts.
Perrineau told Ryan that he raised concerns with Lindelof and Cuse about his character appearing to not care about his son, which he said fostered a racial stereotype.
He also expressed concerns that white characters were prioritized in narrative and screen time over actors of color.
The actor said he was quickly dropped from the show following the conversations.
“I was screwed about it. I was like, ‘Oh, I just got fired, I think,’ Perrineau told Ryan.
According to Perrineau, Cuse’s response was, “Well, you said you didn’t have enough work here, so we’re letting you go.”
“It was a lot, ‘How dare you? “, he recalls.
Cuse told Vanity Fairwho serialized part of the book, that he denies the allegations.
Multiple sources claim they heard Lindelof later say that Perrineau “called me a racist, so I fired him.”
One such source was Monica Owusu-Breen who worked in the writers room.
“Everyone laughed” when Lindelof said that, Owusu-Breen reminded Ryan.
“There was so much bullshit, and so much racist bullshit, and then laughter. It was ugly.
Harold Perrineau claims he was fired after raising questions about how his black character was treated compared to his white counterparts
Questions have been raised about the preferential treatment of white characters in the series
At its peak, the show averaged 16 million viewers per episode.
Screenwriter Monica Owusu-Breen recalled numerous acts of racism on the set of Lost
“I can only describe it as hazing. It was truly college and relentlessly cruel.
“And I’ve never heard so many racist comments in a single play in my career,” Owusu-Breen said.
She started leaving the room when she couldn’t take it anymore, she explained. “I figure, once you’re done talking shit about people of color, I’ll be back.”
Among the things Owusu-Breen heard in Lost, corroborated with another person by Ryan, was an incident in which a staff member adopted an Asian child, one person allegedly told another writer that “no big- parent does not want a slant-eyed grandchild”. .’
On another occasion, when actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s photo was on the table in the writers’ room, someone allegedly told another to remove his wallet nearby “before he stole it”.
When Owusu-Breen and others were traveling in a van, in response to a question about luggage, one writer—using a Yiddish word—said, “Let the schvartze take it.”
“You could tell everyone knew it was a toxic work environment. But it was a huge success,” she explained.
The only Asian American writer has been said to be called Korean, as in “Korean, get on the board.”
In response to the allegations of the toxic set, Lindelof told Ryan: “My level of fundamental inexperience as a manager and boss, my role as someone who is supposed to model a climate of creative danger and risk taking but ensuring security and comfort within the creative process – I failed in this endeavor.
Lindelof, said he did not recall “ever” saying Perrineau was fired for calling him a racist, but added that “I’m just going to concede that the events you’re describing happened some time ago. 17, and I don’t know why anyone would make that up about me.
He claimed he had no knowledge of the other allegations being raised, but was “shocked, appalled and surprised” to hear about them.
Cuse also denied making or hearing any of the comments on set Lost.
In a statement submitted to Ryan through a public relations representative, he said, “I deeply regret that anyone at Lost has to hear them.” They are very insensitive, inappropriate and offensive.
