Known for being multitalented, Terry Crews is an actor, comedian, and former professional football player, playing six years in the NFL. Crews have made a name for himself with his versatile roles and great comedic timing, making him one of the most loved and renowned actors around the world. Since he can perform and excel in a plethora of roles, he was chosen to be part of the popular action movie series, The Expendables.
However, despite being a likable and charismatic personality, Terry Crews faced a lot of problems in the industry. The Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor joined the #MeToo Movement as he became a vocal advocate, about the sexual misconduct he faced in the industry. As a result, he was dropped from The Expendables 4, after he shared the workplace harassment he faced in the industry in 2016, by the renowned producer Harvey Weinstein.
Terry Crews Discusses His Sexual Assault
In 2017, Terry Crews talked went to Twitter to talk about the harassment he faced in the industry in 2016, in the 16-part long thread, the actor shared he was groped by Harvey Weinstein, a top Hollywood executive in an event held in 2016.
In the thread, the Everybody Hates Chris actor wrote that he and his wife attended a Hollywood function last year. The producer came over to him and groped his privates, and he jumped back, while Weinstein was grinning like a jerk, Crews also shared that keeping this incident to himself was giving him PTSD.
“My wife [and] I were at a Hollywood function last year [and] a high level Hollywood executive came over [to] me and groped my privates. Jumping back I said, ‘What are you doing?!’ My wife saw everything [and] we looked at him like he was crazy. He just grinned like a jerk.”
However, after a month it was found out that Crews’ alleged assaulter was William Morris Endeavour agent Adam Venit, and he was put on suspension when the organization investigated the bold claim. Terry Crews was having none of it as later, the former athlete filed a police complaint but the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office declined to prosecute because the incident was outside their statute of limitations.
Hence, Crews decided to sue WME and Adam Venit who returned after his 30-day suspension. However, every action has consequences, and after the Idiocracy actor sued the organization, he was forced to drop his case or else he will be dropped from The Expendables 4.
Terry Crews Was Forced to Drop His Case to Be a Part of The Expendables 4
After Crews testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee about his traumatizing experience. He shared that he got a call from Avi Lerner, the producer of the film asking him to drop his lawsuit to be part of the sequel, and continuing with the lawsuit would only invite “trouble” for him.
Upon asking Senator Amy Klobuchar, if Crews has any part in the upcoming sequel, he answered that he will not be a part of the film and that walking out from the film would show his retaliation for a toxic workplace.
“No. Simply because this same producer is under his own … investigation. Abusers protect abusers — and this is one thing I had to decide, whether I was going to draw the line on. Am I going to be a part of this or am I gonna take a stand, and there are projects I had to turn down.”
While the production for the fourth film was already quite messy, as the film was expected to release in 2022, the problems kept piling up as main cast members such as Terry Crews and Sylvester Stallone left the project. As a result, there is no excitement or buzz for the film, despite only months away from release.
The Expendables 4 will release in theatres on 22nd September 2023.
Source: Deadline
