The Chi showrunner: Lena Waithe knew about Jason Mitchell's alleged on-set misconduct

The Hollywood Reporter

"Everyone was well aware," says Season 2 showrunner Ayanna Floyd of Mitchell, who was fired from The Chi last week over misconduct complaints. Mitchell had reportedly been a problem for Floyd and at least two actresses on the The Chi, including Tiffany Boone, who played his character's girlfriend. (Boone has since departed the show.) Waithe, who created The Chi and serves as an executive producer and occasional writer, had previously said on-set safety was paramount on The Chi. “(If) you want to play that game and be disrespectful or misbehave on set with an actress or anyone, I’ll happily call Showtime and say, ‘This person has to go,’ and you will get shot up and it’ll be a wonderful finale," she said in a Hollywood Reporter showrunners' roundtable in 2018. A source tells The Hollywood Reporter that Waithe was made aware of Mitchell's behavior after Season 1, yet until he was fired last week he was set to return for Season 3, even after being subjected to HR complaints in Seasons 1 and 2. Ayanna Floyd, who took over showrunning duties from Season 1 showrunner Elwood Reid, challenges Waithe. "When I took the helm in season two, it was Lena who informed me of the issues between Jason Mitchell and Tiffany Boone from season one, and that Tiffany was thinking of leaving the show because of it,” says Floyd in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “As a result of this information, I discussed Tiffany’s claims with the studio’s HR department and set up HR presentations for the writers, cast and crew. Ultimately, everyone was well aware of Jason’s behavior and his multiple HR cases, including Lena, the creator and an executive producer of the show, who is very involved at the studio and network level. “As showrunner, I did everything I could to deal with his behavior, by speaking with the studio’s HR department multiple times and instructing one actress to call HR herself, before I became a target of his rage and inappropriateness, and had to report him to HR, as well.” Waithe released a statement that didn't address Floyd's statement. But a source close to her says the showrunner was told Waithe would handle the situation. Neither Showtime nor studio Fox 21 would comment on Floyd's statement. Floyd isn't returning for Season 3.