Faizon Love Sues Universal Pictures For Racial Discrimination Over Black Couple Being Left Out Of “Couples Retreat” Poster

Faizon Love Sues Universal Pictures For Racial Discrimination Over Black Couple Being Left Out Of Couples Retreat Movie Poster

Universal Pictures seems to be in the hot seat and is facing a discrimination lawsuit over the 2009 comedy film ‘Couples Retreat’ from actor Faizon Love. ‘Couples Retreat’ follows four married couples who vacation to a therapy resort in hopes of saving their marriages.

When it came time to market the film overseas it seems that Universal Pictures seemingly omitted the black entertainers who starred in the film from the movie poster. Faizon Love and the actress that played his love interest, Kali Hawk, were not featured in the international movie poster for ‘Couples Retreat’.

Faizon Love shared an image that shows the noticeable differences in the domestic movie poster versus the international poster to his Instagram page. He also highlights how in the domestic poster he and Kali Hawk are placed in the far back of the image. He captioned the photo,

“B.A.M Black Actors Matter Let’s Go!!”

In another Instagram caption, he further explains why it took him over 10 years to file a lawsuit against Universal Pictures.

“people ask why now? One because Universal is still using the edited poster to promote the movie overseas, two no one said any thing when they went back ten years and ask [Kevin Hart] to explain his ”tweet” that kept him from hosting the Oscars…not one person said why now…”

According to Faizon Love’s lawsuit, Universal Pictures made the decision to ‘segregate the film’s white and black actors’. The lawsuit states,

“Universal Studios had no problem featuring Black actors in the comedic film. But when it came to publicizing the film to international audiences, Universal Studios chose to segregate the motion picture’s White and Black actors… Rather than enjoy maximum visibility with the film’s release, Mr. Love was demoted to the proverbial ‘Invisible Man,’ as penned by Ralph Ellison. Although Couples Retreat achieved a first-place box office opening weekend ranking, and went on a spectacular run that grossed more than $171 million worldwide, Universal Studios placed Mr. Love in the back seat of the ride enjoyed by his six White costars.”

The lawsuit also states that Universal Pictures once made promises to Faizon Love in hopes of preventing him from filing a lawsuit over the ill marketing of the film. However, according to the lawsuit, Universal Pictures never upheld their end of the deal.

“Universal Studios, …attempting to assuage Mr. Love and prevent his filing suit, promised both (i) the immediate cessation of the racist international poster, and (ii) prompt recompense to Mr. Love in the form of lucrative, career-making film roles. Universal Studios lied.”

What are your thoughts on Faizon Love suing Universal Pictures? Let us know in the comments.