PICTURE: INSTAGRAM/ GAYTON MCKENZIE
Following months of non-payments experienced by the cast of BET Africa’s Queendom, the frustrated cast and crew resorted to writing an open letter to the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie.
The minister who was not impressed about the letter, responded: “This approach helps no one. The National School of Arts wrote to us respectfully and we helped them. Who among you approached me first? Now I’m catching smoke because I gave people concert tickets. Is this really how to ask for help?” he penned.
The letter penned to Minister Gayton comes after he gave away free tickets for the Chris Brown concert, which was recently held at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg.
In the letter, the cast and crew said Min. Gayton appeared as a herald of change, brash, outspoken and opinionated, but silent when it comes to protecting their livelihood as the cast, crew and background actors.
“Silent on how we are supposed to face another payment delay- now the third payment delay since the end of October.
“We’re the one’s facing the inescapable peak of bleak festive season. We’re the one’s facing our disbelieving families, unpaid rent, food bills and your stoney silence,” read the letter.
The Clive Morris Production drama series is packed with a star-studded cast that includes, Dawn Thandeka King, Sindi Dlathu, Linda Mtoba and Pallance Dladla among others.
Entertainment commentator, Phil Mphela took to his X (formerly Twitter) to share the open letter.
OPEN LETTER TO MINISTER @GaytonMcK
Actors and crew on BET telenovela Queendom are fed-up and want Minister Gayton McKenzie to step up and help.
The employees have not been paid for their work since October and will not be paid for December.
“Is this your present to us,… pic.twitter.com/9fhlKXibKu
— Kgopolo (@PhilMphela) December 18, 2024
Speaking to IOL then, CEO of Clive Morris Production, Clive Morris said this predicament led to them not being able to secure funds needed for their co-investment in the production.
“We had funds ready to pay for our share, BET paid their share, but our funder let us down at the very last moment. We are not sure why, we don’t know if something else came along but the funder at the very last moment, when they were supposed to deposit the funds, didn’t.
“We have been trying to find another funder to come in and BET is also trying to assist in finding funding. I think there has been some really good progress, but that is the reason why people have not been paid at the moment. It’s very unfortunate and unique circumstances as we as producers are funding the percentage of a show,” explained Clive.
Also see: Queendom faces production pause amid financial woes
