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“The Chi” actress Tiffany Boone is breaking her silence about her departure from the show, following her harassment allegations against her co-star Jason Mitchell.
Boone quit “The Chi” back in November 2018, and Mitchell was fired from the show last May after allegations against him surfaced, which included intimidation and abuse claims from Boone and showrunner Ayanna Floyd Davis. In addition to” The Chi,” Mitchell was also let go from the Netflix film “Desperados” after several actresses from the show accused him of harassment. Ultimately, Mitchell was dropped by his representatives as well.
On Monday, Boone took to Instagram to address her exit. “You don’t carelessly leave a ‘hit show’ that is praised by your community. I deeply love Chicago and the people of that city who have embraced me. I felt honored and privileged to be part of telling their story. The weight of what I was leaving behind felt like a ton, but the weight of my responsibility to speak up was even heavier.”
Boone said she was skeptical about leaving “The Chi. “There were people who questioned my decision. How could I be sure I would work again, especially on a project of that magnitude? I wasn’t sure, but I had faith that once I took that leap, I could be guided wherever I was supposed to go.” And she did go on to work, in several highly-anticipated shows, including the new Amazon series from #JordanPeele “Hunters,” and the Hulu miniseries “Little Fires Everywhere.”
Boone said that she’d taken her concerns to high-level producers and HR in season one, but she was neglected. By season two, Boone asked to be released from her contract, a choice she says was “one of the most difficult decisions.” “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. I felt that if I didn’t speak up, other voices that were trying to be heard would be silenced,” Boone wrote.
Boone didn’t mention Mitchell’s name and would not give out specific details about the incident. “At this time, I am not in a place where I am conformable sharing any more than I already have,” Boone wrote. “I left the show, hoping chances would be made to create a better workplace for everyone involved. […] I dishonored myself by staying in a situation that I knew wasn’t aligned with who I am or who I want to become.”
“The Chi” will make its comeback for season 3 on July 5. Showtime and “The Chi” producer Fox 21 Television Studios have declined to comment on Boone’s post, according to Variety.
