Ceaser Emanuel, a former star of the reality show ‘Black Ink Crew New York,’ has recently come forward with shocking allegations about the amount of money the show made in advertising profits. In a podcast interview on the ‘Bagfuel’ podcast hosted by DJ Esso and Hynaken, Emanuel revealed that he had his lawyer look into the advertisement money the show made over its 10-year span, and the results were staggering. According to Emanuel, VH1, the network that aired the show, allegedly made a whopping $1.2 billion from ‘Black Ink Crew.’
Naturally, Emanuel’s claims have caused quite a stir on social media. Many people have expressed sympathy for the cast, who Emanuel alleges did not receive a percentage of the profits. Some commenters even criticized Emanuel for allegedly not reading his contracts with the network. However, reality star Tami Roman also chimed in, pointing out the lack of union representation for reality TV stars, which means they often miss out on the financial benefits that actors receive, such as residuals.
Residuals are long-term payments made to those who worked on films and television shows. They are usually negotiated by unions and cover subsequent airings and reruns after the initial release. When DJ Esso asked Emanuel if he receives residuals from the show, Emanuel sarcastically replied, “Residual what, bro?”
It’s important to note that the alleged $1.2 billion figure represents only VH1’s profit from one show over a ten-year period. ‘Black Ink Crew New York’ first premiered in 2013 and continues to air today. Emanuel hinted that the amount could be even higher if you factor in the streaming revenue from platforms like Peacock.
The reactions on social media have been mixed, with many people supporting Emanuel’s claims and demanding fair compensation for reality TV stars. However, others argue that this is simply how the reality TV environment is structured, with networks making significant profits while the talent often goes uncompensated.
Talk show host Quentin Latham, also known as Funky Dineva, weighed in on the situation, stating that there is no amount of negotiating that could change the current structure of reality TV. Unfortunately, without union representation, reality TV stars are at a disadvantage when it comes to receiving proper compensation for their work.
These allegations have shed light on the financial dynamics of reality TV and the lack of safeguards in place to protect the stars who make these shows successful. As the industry continues to evolve, it’s crucial to address these issues and ensure that all talent is fairly compensated for their contributions.
