Sylvester Stallone Accused of Insulting ‘Tulsa King’ Background Actors, Director Refutes Allegations

• Sylvester Stallone and an unnamed director on “Tulsa King” were accused of making derogatory remarks towards background actors.
• The casting agency, Catrett Locke Casting, quit the project following these allegations.
• Director Craig Zisk refutes the allegations, stating that no insults were made and that the casting director quit due to a disagreement over casting practices.
• Zisk also denies that Stallone made any comments about casting “pretty girls” around him.

Newsypeople – Sylvester Stallone Accused of Insulting, The recent controversy surrounding Sylvester Stallone and the set of “Tulsa King” has sparked a heated debate about the working environment and the treatment of background actors. Stallone, known for his roles in the “Rocky” series, plays the character Dwight ‘The General’ Mandfredi in the Paramount+ series, which is currently filming its second season in Atlanta. The allegations against Stallone stem from claims that he made derogatory remarks about the background actors, leading to a toxic working environment and prompting a staffer to quit the show.

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The accusations against Stallone were first reported by TV writer Julie Benson in a now-deleted post on April 8, 2024. According to the post, Stallone was heard making comments to the show’s director, Craig Zisk, about the extras, referring to them as “ugly” and “fat guy with cane.” This led to a series of negative reactions and accusations of creating a toxic environment on the set.

In response to these allegations, Craig Zisk, the Director and Executive Producer of “Tulsa King,” denied the claims. He stated that the extras had been improperly cast, with actors who were considerably older than the intended 25 to 35-year-old range for the scene. Zisk also claimed that the extras were polite and performed their jobs as expected. He further denied that Stallone made any comments about bringing “pretty girls” around him, and he mentioned that his wife, Jennifer Flavin, was on set during the filming.

#SylvesterStallone has been accused of insulting #TulsaKing background actors.https://t.co/RQbc1dSJis

— TV Insider (@TVInsider) April 9, 2024

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The casting director, Rose Locke, reportedly quit the show after being called out for not doing her job properly, which included not ensuring the extras met the show’s casting requirements. Locke allegedly claimed that Stallone and Zisk insulted the extras, but Zisk refuted these claims, stating that Locke was not on set during the day of the alleged incident and that she quit because she was called out for her casting decisions.

The situation has been further complicated by the involvement of a casting agency, which announced its decision to part ways with “Tulsa King” due to the allegations. The agency’s statement did not directly address the allegations against Stallone but expressed concern over the working environment and the treatment of background artists.

The controversy surrounding Sylvester Stallone and the “Tulsa King” set revolves around allegations of derogatory comments made by Stallone towards background actors, leading to accusations of a toxic working environment. However, the director and executive producer of the show, Craig Zisk, have refuted these allegations, attributing the casting issues to the casting director’s inadequate performance rather than any actions by Stallone. The situation highlights the complexities of managing a high-profile production and the importance of maintaining a respectful and professional environment for all cast and crew members.

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