One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Hawaii Five-O's Two Asian Stars Quit Because Of Reported Pay Inequality With White Co-Stars
Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park at Comic Con in 2010. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park, two of the stars of CBS' Hawaii Five-0, have quit the show because they were unable to negotiate pay to equal that of their white co-stars Alex O’Loughlin and Scott Caan, reports Variety. Dae Kim and Park have been series regulars for the past seven seasons. Their departure will be incorporated into the first episode of season eight, which premieres on September 29.
CBS Television Studios' final offers to Dae Kim and Park were reportedly 10-15% lower than those of O'Loughlin and Caan. The latter two actors also have back-end deals with the series, which means they get a percentage of the show's profits.
The loss of two major stars after several seasons isn't unheard of in television, but the loss of the two main Asian-American stars puts CBS in hot water considering their history of poor diversity representation on the network. The show, which is set in Hawaii, will now feature no non-white main characters, unless the show casts an actor of color for a new series regular named Tani, according to TV Line.
In a statement, a CBS spokesperson said,
"We are so appreciative of Daniel and Grace’s enormous talents, professional excellence and the aloha spirit they brought to each and every one of our 168 episodes. They’ve helped us build an exciting new Hawaii Five-0, and we wish them all the best and much success in their next chapters. Mahalo and a hui hou…"
Daniel Dae Kim is executive producing The Good Doctor for ABC, which was picked up to series in May.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
