Just when Network Ten’s woes couldn’t get any worse, the broadcaster can now throw in a massive lawsuit with its voluntary administration in what can best be described as a week from hell.
As reported on B&T back in early March, US comedian Tom Arnold has officially filed a lawsuit against the Network Ten over a contractual dispute surrounding his appearance on Ten’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here earlier this year.
According to Arnold he agreed to appear on the program – he was the first contestant evicted – for an appearance fee of $US425,000 ($A560,000). The sum of money was not only was for appearing on the show, which is filmed in South Africa, but also included a follow-up stand-up tour of Australia.
Arnold claims breach of contract because he is still reportedly owed $US140,000 and the tour never went ahead as planned. He’s now suing the Network Ten and celebrity agency A-List Entertainment for fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation and breach of oral contract.
B&T approached Ten for comment who offered the official line: “All amounts owed to Tom Arnold by Network Ten have been paid. We have fully discharged all our obligations to Tom Arnold. And we have received no notice of any legal proceedings.”
How Arnold’s claims will go now that Ten is in receivership is unclear.
Arnold is also reportedly upset that he was portrayed as miserable in the couple of weeks he was on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here blaming in on the producer’s editing. Arnold believed the portrayal would have seriously affected his mooted comedy tour.
His lawyer, Marty Singer, has said: “Network Ten ensured Arnold that its depiction of Arnold on the program would not endanger the Australian comedy tour,” his comments reported on News.com.au.
“It was agreed orally and confirmed in writing that the guaranteed compensation to be paid for the two engagements — as a package — would be $425,000,” Singer said. “Plaintiffs agreed to the deal and blocked off Arnold’s schedule in prime summer months when he typically receives his best engagements and highest compensation.”
