Veteran actor Wendell Pierce, who starred in "The Wire" and "Jack Ryan," claimed his rental application for an apartment unit in Harlem was denied because of racism and bigotry.
Pierce, who is Black, shared his experience on X (formerly Twitter) in a post on Monday night. In the post, he said the apartment's white landlord denied his application despite showing proof of employment and real estate holdings. He has not identified the landlord.
"For those of you who don't understand my righteous anger; I'm on 2 TV series, ELSBETH and RAISING KANAN. I'm filming SUPERMAN. Two years ago, I finished the fourth season of JACK RYAN. Last year I finished a run on Broadway in DEATH OF A SALESMAN. Even with my proof of employment, bank statements, and real estate holdings, a white apartment owner DENIED my application to rent the apartment.....in Harlem, of all places," Pierce wrote.
"Racism and bigots are real. There are those who will do anything to destroy life's journey for Black folks. When you deny our personal experiences, you are vile and despicable," he added.
For those of you who don’t understand my righteous anger; I’m on 2 TV series, ELSBETH and RAISING KANAN. I’m filming SUPERMAN. Two years ago, I finished the fourth season of JACK RYAN. Last year I finished a run on Broadway in DEATH OF A SALESMAN. Even with my proof of…
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) June 4, 2024
In a CNN interview done days after the tweet went viral, Pierce said the landlord said his application was denied because he could not show proof of "steady employment." However, Pierce claimed that, on top of bank statements, he also offered to pay a year's worth of rent in advance.
Pierce, 60, is known for playing Detective Bunk Moreland on HBO's "The Wire." He has also starred in other television series, including "Suits," "Treme," and "Jack Ryan." He is currently starring in "Power Book III: Raising Kanan" and "Elsbeth."
Housing Discrimination in New York
The Fair Housing Act makes discrimination illegal in both renting and buying. Landlords who are found to have discriminated against renters based on race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation can face fines amounting to $10,000 or higher.
That being said, many renters continue to face housing discrimination. A study published in 2020 found evidence of housing discrimination in 71% of the cases it analyzed.
In 2021, a sweeping lawsuit filed by the Housing Rights Initiative accused 88 brokerage firms and landlords across New York City of discriminating against people with housing vouchers.
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