Terry Crews Weighs In On Terrence Howard’s Low-Paying Jobs Complaints

Terry Crews has responded to Terrence Howard‘s low-paying acting complaints. During a recent episode of Club Shay Shay, Crews insisted that he understands Howard’s perspective on wanting to be adequately compensated. However, the White Chicks actor said he feels differently about the whole thing. For instance, Crews feels actors should be “grateful” for low-paying jobs. 

“First of all, and I understand what Terrence is saying, but I have never ever looked at whatever money I got as a horror story,” Crews said. “If I did it, I loved it. See, but this is the problem. There’s a saying I have to say: ‘You can’t nod yes and mean no.’” He also detailed a few of his earlier roles, such as an extra in Blink-182’s “Down” music video and an uncredited role in 2001’s Training Day. 

Crews argued that if you originally agreed to a low-paying contract, you must honor the agreement. His perspective states that he is forever full of “gratitude” for the opportunities as a result. Crews also used his time as a football player to support his stance better. 

“I didn’t get [anything] for Training Day. How about that?” he added. “I didn’t get zero. But it changed my life forever. You didn’t know who I was if it wasn’t for a no-paying job. First of all, name somebody that played football for money when they start. You don’t get no money! You play football for free. You play basketball for free. Then you get all the way to the pros and you get the millions. Ain’t no other way, bruh. There’s nothing else. There’s no way to hop, skip, and jump this thing. But that’s the thing. People are trying to invent ways to get right to the money.”

The 55-year-old explained how that low-paying Training Day gig landed him Friday After Next. He explained that Ice Cube only considered him for the Friday After Next role because he first saw him in the Denzel Washington film. Crews explained that if he hadn’t taken Training Day, he wouldn’t have been able to take that next step. 

In mid-February, Howard opened up about being paid little to nothing for his award-winning role in Hustle & Flow. During an interview with WREG News Channel 3, Howard said that he was allegedly paid $12,000 for his role and hasn’t received any royalties for his contributions to the film’s soundtrack.

“What Paramount did, instead of putting my name as ‘Terrence Howard’ performing the songs, they put ‘performed by Djay.’ Well, they owned Djay,” he told the news outlet. “So now I’ve gotta sue Paramount or send them a letter to say, ‘Hey, you guys owe me about 20 years’ worth of residuals and performance royalties.’”

In December 2023, Howard also sued his former agency over a pay disparity while on Empire. The Chicago native stated that the Creative Artists Agency LLC fraudulently persuaded him to take less money on the hit Fox show. He asserted that he wasn’t informed of the CAA’s packaging fee.