Actress Tiffany Boone posted a message about leaving the hit Showtime series “The Chi” in November 2018.
Her former co-star Jason Mitchell was fired from the show — created by Lena Waithe — last year, after several misconduct accusations were made against him. Boone, who played Mitchell’s girlfriend Jerrika in the series, filed complaints with human resources and quit after she said her problems with Mitchell continued.
The actress shared her message Monday on Instagram and explained why she walked away from “The Chi.” Boone also gave shared details relating to actual steps taken before she left.
“I’d already spoken to HR and high-level producers about a few of my concerns after season one,” she wrote. “I returned for season two, feeling assured that HR training would set the show on the right track. However, once we started filming, I quickly realized that not everyone was interested in creating a work environment that was conducive to each person feeling safe, seen and heard.”
Boone also stressed that walking away from “The Chi” wasn’t an easy decision, and she wasn’t sure if more work was on the horizon.
“You don’t carelessly leave a ‘hit show’ that is praised by your community,” wrote Boone. “I deeply love Chicago and the people of that city who have embraced me. I felt honored and privileged to be a part of telling their story.
“How could I be sure I would work again, especially on a project of that magnitude?” she continued. “I wasn’t sure but I had faith that once I took that leap I would be guided wherever I was supposed to go.”
Boone then said things really worked out for her after she left the show.
She also brought up being cast in Jordan Peele’s series “Hunters” on Amazon and said everyone on that set made it clear that it would be a safe, collaborative working environment.
Boone mentioned working on Hulu’s “Little Fires Everywhere” as well, produced by Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon.
“It is not simply that this show is run by women,” wrote Boone about “Little Fires Everywhere.” “It is run by women who are committed to supporting other women, telling unique and compelling stories written by and about women and creating an environment where each and every person feels safe and inspired to create their best work.”
Toward the last part of her message, Boone shared how she won’t let her experience on “The Chi” define her, but instead sees it as having taught her a great deal.
“The entire experience has inspired me to continue to be a part of a changing tide in this industry,” she wrote, “to show up to sets knowing the power of my own voice, to use that voice to speak up for myself and others and to only place trust in leaders who encourage the same.”
Boone didn’t mention Mitchell’s name in her post, and she chose to disable the comments section as well.
