Last week, "Hawaii Five-0" stars Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park left the show after CBS refused to pay the Asian actors as much as their white costars. Sources told Variety that Kim and Park were seeking salaries equal to those of Scott Caan and Alex O'Loughlin.
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CBS responds to 'Hawaii Five-0' controversy after 2 of its stars leave over equal-pay dispute
CBS says it 'tried very hard to keep' Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park on the show and 'hopes to work with them again in the near future.'
Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park.
CBS' final offer to the actors was reportedly "10-15% lower" than the salaries of Caan and O'Loughlin. After Kim spoke about his departure on Wednesday, CBS released a follow-up statement:
"Daniel and Grace have been important and valued members of 'Hawaii Five-0' for seven seasons. We did not want to lose them and tried very hard to keep them with offers for large and significant salary increases. While we could not reach an agreement, we part ways with tremendous respect for their talents on screen, as well as their roles as ambassadors for the show off screen, and with hopes to work with them again in the near future."
The CBS reboot of the Hawaii-based procedural drama premiered in 2010, and Kim and Park starred alongside O'Loughlin and Caan for seven seasons.
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Kim and Park aren't the first to fight for equal pay. Last year, "Shameless" star Emmy Rossum held out for equal pay to her costar William H. Macy before eventually reaching a deal.
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