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Television
Judge Mablean to Leave "Divorce Court;" Money and Hair Issues Were the Real Reasons for Her Departure
posted on Apr 10, 2006
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After seven years, Judge Mablean Ephriam will step down from the bench on Twentieth Television’s syndicated show “Divorce Court.” Ephriam has been involved in family law for more than 28 years, as a lawyer and mediator. In addition to starring in “Divorce Court” for seven seasons, Ephraim’s popularity soared to new heights as the captain who led her team to weight loss victory on VH1’s reality television show, “Celebrity FIT Club”. She has also appeared in the recent two Tyler Perry hits, “Diary of a Mad Black Woman and “Madea’s Family Reunion”.
Bob Cook, president and chief operating officer of Twentieth Television said in a statement: "We'd like to thank Mablean for her dedication to and wonderful work on the program, and we wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors." “Mablean Ephriam’s contributions to the show were inspiring and it was a pleasure working with her.”
While FOX would not disclose the reasons for Ephraim’s departure, the Judge has been rather vocal in discussing the matter.
Judge Ephriam held a press conference in Los Angeles last week to discuss her departure from the syndicated strip and to answer community concerns about the way her departure was handled. Ephraim said it is not true that she “decided to step down after seven years.” “The truth is that Fox and I were unable to reach an agreement, after several months of negotiations. I was willing to stay. Fox was unwilling to pay,” Ephraim said.
Ephraim explained that the deal Fox offered her was substantially less than all of the other court show judges. “Though I made several offers of reduction from my initial demand, in an effort to reach a settlement, Fox remained firm in its “low-ball offer” and finally, its “take- or -leave it offer” which contained a very small increase from its initial position, coupled with some other unreasonable demands. Fox took the position that in order to receive this small increase (which was still unequal); there would be “significant production changes”.
“I simply requested equal pay for equal work. Is this too much to ask?” she said.
According to Ephraim, FOX also demanded that her hairdo not change for the entire season. “There will be no changes in the current hairstyle to avoid time consuming issues regarding her hair,” Fox was said to have stated during its negotiations – a demand Ephriam found to be very offensive and racially insensitive. ”The requirement also comes very close to a violation, if it does not in fact violate, the Fair Employment Practices Act. An employer cannot demand one to wear a particular hairstyle unless it directly affects or impacts the employee’s ability to perform his or her employment duties. My hairstyle does not meet this criteria, it is, however, a racial and ethnic issue. Suddenly, after seven years of a show that has run neck- in- neck with the other top rated court shows, why is my hair an issue. Why, I ask? Because of my ethnicity – African American, Black, Negro, whatever term you prefer to use. Because of my genetics (short, curly, hair) which requires the use of chemicals and/or a hot pressing comb to straighten and curlers to style. It cannot be styled by a wash, blow dry and set. Therefore, in Fox’s opinion, it is a time consuming issue. I wore a short hairstyle which was my own hair. Due to a misapplication of a chemical process, I lost a substantial amount of hair in season six. Out of my desire to maintain continuity, and the image I had created (for the last five years), I elected to wear a wig last year for continuity. Had Fox asked me to maintain a short hairstyle for continuity and for image, it would have been a different issue. But they are saying I must continue to wear the wig because that would expedite the hair styling process. However, my hair has now grown. I had not yet decided what hairstyle I would wear for season eight. If I were to accept their demands, I would have been unable to make that decision.”
Ephraim also discussed several other demands FOX made which she thought would diminish the quality of the show including FOX wanting to tape seven shows per day (sometimes eight), instead of six. Ephraim explained to FOX that she could not do this effectively and produce quality shows. According to Ephraim, FOX didn’t want to provide any vacation time during tape schedule. “My national church convocation in November is the only vacation I take during tape season. Will I now not be allowed to observe my religious practice? This was non-negotiable for me. I believe this infringes on my freedom of religious belief?,” she explained.
Ephraim continued, “There were several other issues related to the tape schedule and taping itself which were unfair to the staff and crew of Divorce Court, as well as me. For instance, “we no longer will be able to pay for the holiday luncheon” stated Fox. Divorce Court has one catered meal the entire season, the Christmas holiday luncheon, before hiatus. This would be cut out if I were to be paid the small increase. This would not be fair to the staff and crew.”
Ephraim says she was bringing these issues not out of the desire to seek any legal actions toward Fox, but to raise awareness, to appreciate cultural differences, and diversity.
Ephraim ended the press conference by saying, “I thank Fox for the last seven years, for the opportunity, for the exposure. I also thank Fox for refusing to pay me what I know I was worth. It set me free to ascend to higher ground. To go beyond before. I firmly believe that God has a better plan for my life.”
A new judge, Lynn Toler, will preside over the eighth season of “Divorce Court” when it premieres this fall. Toler, an African American attorney who served as an elected judge on the Cleveland Heights Municipal Court in Ohio, left the bench in 2001 after being picked to act as a judge on another Twentieth Television syndicated court show, Power of Attorney. “Power of Attorney” was canceled. Toler is a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. In her eight-year tenure as an Ohio judge, she presided over cases involving small-claims disputes, domestic violence, negligent homicide, assault and stalking.
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