Stacey Mattocks took matters in her own hands after one of her favorite TV shows, “The Game” was canceled in 2009. The South Florida woman created a Facebook fan page for the scripted sitcom that was dropped by the CW network, in hopes another network would renew the series.
Mattocks’ fan page quickly garnered millions of “Likes” from eager fans that for some networks may translate into viewers. BET took notice and picked up the series in 2010. The show debuted to its highest ratings since its inception with 7.7 million viewers in 2011.
Mattocks and BET executives would work closely following the show’s successful premiere to maintain the fan page, however the relationship quickly grew sour. Earlier this year The Hollywood Reporter confirmed Mattocks filed a lawsuit claiming the network committed “tortious interference, breach of contract, breach of good faith and fair dealing, and copyright infringement” violations.
According to the thegrio.com:
“After the show’s huge premiere, BET began paying Mattocks $30 an hour for freelance social media work, according to her lawsuit. The network made several offers for the Facebook page, but the two sides could not reach an agreement.
Stacey Mattocks
“Eventually, BET and Mattocks reached an agreement in February 2011 allowing the network access to the Facebook page and promising not to exclude her. BET made another offer to pay her more than $4,100 a month for a three-year period, which she rejected. She then decided in summer 2012 to “demote” BET’s administrative access to the page.
“It was then that BET terminated its agreement with Mattocks, and her page was removed from Facebook’s site. BET’s own Facebook page for “The Game” grew quickly to more than 6.2 million “likes,” according to the lawsuit.”
A preliminary scheduling hearing on the case is set for Thursday in federal court in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
BET wants the lawsuit dismissed, contending Mattocks hasn’t raised any valid legal claims.
