Actor Nia Long is reportedly challenging a pay dispute tied to her role in the upcoming “Michael” biopic, raising questions about contract equity in major studio productions.
According to a report from Puck News, Long is “quietly fighting” Lionsgate over an alleged salary discrepancy. The actress reportedly had a “favored nations” clause in her contract, a standard industry provision designed to ensure equal pay among similarly billed cast members. Despite this, she allegedly discovered that co-stars Colman Domingo and Miles Teller received higher compensation.
The report states Long is now “threatening to take the studio to mediation” over claims she was underpaid. Mediation is commonly used in Hollywood contract disputes to resolve conflicts without escalating to litigation.
Long portrays Katherine Jackson in the film, a role that reportedly features limited screen time in the final cut. However, Puck News indicates that earlier versions of the script included a more substantial third-act presence for her character, including “a key scene at the end of the film.”
The production has already drawn attention for its high-profile budget adjustments. As previously reported, director Antoine Fuqua and producer Graham King were paid $10 million and $6 million, respectively, for last-minute edits and reshoots. These revisions reportedly addressed scenes connected to allegations of sexual abuse involving Michael Jackson.
Neither Long nor Lionsgate has publicly commented on the reported dispute.
