A group of women who appeared on the A&E reality series “8 Minutes,” which documented “cop-turned-pastor” Kevin Brown surprising sex workers and attempting to rescue them from the lifestyle, have filed a lawsuit against A+E Television Networks, alleging that they got stiffed after agreeing to appear on the series.
In the lawsuit, filed in district court in Texas, the women claim that they were enticed to participate on the series with promises of a “new life” and help with health care, employment and rehabilitation, among other assistance, only to be given a financial pittance and left high and dry when it came to help getting out of the life.
The suit also claims that the reality show was a farce; while the series operated on the premise that Brown and his crew had only eight minutes to convince women to leave the sex-worker lifestyle, the lawsuit contends that the women who appeared on the show were contacted days or even weeks ahead of filming.
One of the three women, all of whom filed the lawsuit anonymously, claims that she never had sex for money, but did post an ad on an escort website when money got tight for her and her family. She claims that she received a mere $250 for an interview with Brown, and while she was told to reach out to a producer for any assistance she needed to start her new life, after “weeks of waiting” for that help, she “was left economically and emotionally devastated.”
A second woman claims she received $200 for appearing on the show, and “never received any of the assistance she was promised in exchange for her appearance on the show.”
The suit also names series producers Long Pond Media and Relativity Media.
A third plaintiff claims she was told that her face would be blurred but wasn’t, with predictably disastrous results.
“Family, friends and acquaintances from her small hometown in Kentucky contacted her about her appearance on the show,” the lawsuit reads. “To this day, Plaintiff Jane Doe III is approached by strangers in public places inquiring about her appearance on ‘8 Minutes.’”
To make matters worse, the lawsuit claims, the third plaintiff “had kept her line of work private from her daughter until it was disclosed via national television.”
“8 Minutes” premiered in April, with A&E announcing that it was removing the series from its schedule the following month due to controversy over its content.
A+E Networks had no comment for TheWrap on the lawsuit.
The three plaintiffs list numerous allegations, including breach of contract, fraudulent inducement, negligent representation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. While the suit seeks unspecified damages, it does state that the women are seeking “monetary relief over $1 million.”
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.