Debra Wilson, an original cast member of the sketch comedy series 'MADtv,' has revealed that she left the show in 2003 after discovering a pay disparity between herself and white male actors who joined the cast after her. In an interview with Comedy Hype News, Wilson said that when she raised the issue with showrunners, they were unwilling to increase her salary.
Wilson, who was the only original Black woman on the show since its debut in 1995, explained that her departure was not solely about money but about the principle of being undervalued. 'When I was told that all the things you want to create and be on the show has a monetary value, and we don't value it as much as the new people coming in, that's when I left,' she said.
Wilson was known for her impersonations of Oprah Winfrey and Whitney Houston, as well as original characters like Cocoa Latette and Bunifa Latifah Halifah Sharifa Jackson. After leaving 'MADtv,' she pursued voice work in animated films such as 'Over the Hedge' and television series including 'Family Guy' and 'The Boondocks.'
Wilson noted that she would have remained on the show if the producers had offered any salary increase, even if it did not match the higher-paid cast members. 'Had they just said, 'You know what, Debra, we're going to raise your salary. It won't match his but we are going to raise it,' I would have stayed,' she said.
Wilson was among the eight original cast members, alongside Bryan Callen, David Herman, Orlando Jones, Phil LaMarr, Artie Lange, Mary Scheer, and Nicole Sullivan. Later additions included Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Alex Borstein, and Will Sasso. Wilson made a guest appearance when the series was briefly revived on the CW in 2016.
