BET Responds To Gabrielle Union Lawsuit: “We’re Within Our Rights”

Gabrielle Union made headlines today when news of her lawsuit against BET hit the wire.

The timing of filing (and indeed the filing itself) shocked many, given that season 4 of her hit series ‘Being Mary Jane’ launches in January on…BET.

Per reports, Union is unhappy due to strategic plays she feels are being made to get more out of her – for less money.

As reported, her suit read:

“BET represented and assured Ms. Union before she agreed to perform in Being Mary Jane that it would never produce more than thirteen (13) episodes per season of the series. BET now wants to shoot twenty (20) episodes of the series back-to-back and cram all of the episodes into a single season in order to fraudulently extend the term of Ms. Union’s contract, with no additional consideration, and to deprive Ms. Union of her agreed-upon compensation for the next two seasons of ‘Being Mary Jane.’

Wasting no time, BET have clapped-back. Read their response below…

In a statement issued moments ago, the Viacom-owned channel said:

“While we hold Gabrielle Union in the highest esteem, we feel strongly that we are contractually well within our rights and are committed to reaching a swift and positive resolution in this matter.” [Source]

An undoubtable ratings winner, one has to wonder how this will affect the future of the show.

Per the filings, it seems as though there will definitely be a season beyond the one premiering January. Needless to say, whichever side is awarded the win, it’ll make for an interesting climate on set.

Here’s hoping all is resolved one way or the other soon.