Summary:
- Controversy surrounds “Tulsa King” Season 2 as Sylvester Stallone promotes the show on social media without addressing accusations of mistreatment of extras.
- Casting agencies pulled out, but director Craig Zisk denied claims, stating extras were improperly cast, and Stallone didn’t make disparaging remarks.
This week, Sylvester Stallone took to social media to promote the upcoming second season of his Paramount+ series, “Tulsa King.”
However, he didn’t address accusations of creating a “toxic” environment on set, where background actors were allegedly mocked for their appearance by him and a director.
Stallone’s Instagram post on Monday featured him in character as Dwight “The General” Manfredi, dressed in a lavender suit, but it made no mention of the accusations.
Instead, he informed fans that he’s currently filming the second season, created by Taylor Sheridan, known for “Yellowstone.
Stallone captioned the on-set image, “Ringing the bell on location for Tulsa King part two.
Accusations of a “toxic” set led a casting director and two agencies to withdraw from the production. Catrett Locke Casting announced on Monday that it would “part ways” with the show upon learning of the accusations against Stallone and a director.
Similarly, on April 9, Rose Locke Casting terminated its relationship with the production after reports surfaced that Stallone and a director had disparaged a background colleague with insults like “ugly,” “tub of lard,” and “fat guy with cane.
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Rose Locke of Catrett Locke Casting explained her decision to withdraw her agency from the show, citing a “clear toxic environment” observed during a set visit.
Screenshots circulated by an unaffiliated writer on X.com on April 9 further illustrated the uncomfortable environment. SAG-AFTRA, the actors union, also weighed in on the controversy, stating, “There is no room on any set for disparaging comments to background actors or any performers.”
Previous allegations focused on criticism of the background actors’ age and appearance, as revealed in discussions within a Facebook Group formed as the issue gained traction among some of the extras.
The show is produced by 101 Studios, which is actively investigating the claims.
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Craig Zisk, the director overseeing the episode being filmed and serving as the show’s overall director and executive producer, has denied the allegations.
He told TMZ that the extras were improperly cast by Lock and that he had requested “hip, young” background actors in the 25- to 35-year-old range for a bar scene, rather than middle-aged individuals.
Zisk stated that despite this, the allegedly miscast extras remained professional and courteous, and Stallone never made any comments about needing “pretty girls” around him.
Zisk’s denial was supported by some actors in the Facebook group, who stated that they witnessed nothing unusual or negative on set. “I observed nothing out of the ordinary, nothing different than any of the other background acting experiences I have been involved in,” wrote one member. Another added, “I noticed nothing out of the ordinary onset.”
“Tulsa King” follows Stallone’s character, a recently released mobster, as he strives to establish a new crime empire in Oklahoma. Its debut season was one of Paramount+‘s most-watched series.
