How Backstage Drama Got Martin Canceled After Just 5 Seasons
Martin Lawrence’s self-titled sitcom Martin made him a star, but after only five seasons, backstage drama caused the hit show to be canceled.
Actor Martin Lawrence’s self-titled sitcom Martin made him a star, but backstage drama caused the hit show to be canceled after only five seasons. Lawrence was one of many stand-up comedians to get their own sitcom in the 1990s, joining the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen, and Ellen DeGeneres. Martin was also part of a wave of 1990s sitcom hits starring Black leads, including such shows as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Living Single, Family Matters, and Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper.
The TV show Martin was one of the bigger success stories in that bunch, with Lawrence becoming a household name, and moving on to a career as a movie lead afterward, starring in hits like Bad Boys, Blue Streak, and Big Momma’s House. Though he’s dealt with his share of career inhibiting personal struggles in the decades since, he still maintains a loyal fanbase. In addition, he effortlessly slipped back into his Marcus Burnett role opposite co-star Will Smith in 2020’s Bad Boys for Life. No matter how much adoration the comedian has garnered, it still didn’t stop Martin from being canceled.
The second-biggest name to come out of the Martin TV show was Tisha Cambell, who played Martin’s girlfriend, Gina. She was the female lead on My Wife and Kids opposite Damon Wayans for five seasons, then recurred on All of Us and Everybody Hates Chris. A lot of why Martin worked was the charming but sometimes stressful relationship between Martin and Gina, but a big reason the show didn’t last longer was due to strife between the two actors behind the scenes. Here’s why Martin got the ax after only 5 seasons.
Martin Lawrence Was Allegedly Inappropriate Toward Tisha Campbell On Martin’s Set
The main reason Martin was canceled, at least according to contemporary reports, was that by season 5, the relationship between Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell had completely fallen apart. The two had known each other before the show, and according to Campbell, Lawrence would constantly subject her to unwanted sexual advances, which only got worse once she got engaged. Campbell also alleged that Lawrence would grope her during sex scenes, to the point where she asked the writing team not to write anymore. Lawrence, an executive producer on Martin, would also regularly be verbally abusive to the rest of the cast, sometimes threatening to get them fired.
By Martin season 5, Campbell had enough, and filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Lawrence, resulting in Gina sitting out much of the season. The lawsuit was eventually settled, and Campbell returned for Martin’s final episodes, but under the condition she did not have to share scenes with Lawrence, making for an incredibly awkward and largely regrettable series finale that saw Martin and Gina repeatedly exit sets before the other would enter.
Why Bad Boys 4 Is Now Also Cancelled
Martin Lawrence’s latest project, Bad Boys 4, might be facing similar cancelation issues, but as a result of Will Smith’s actions, not his own. The script for the movie was finished, but the project was then canceled due to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. Smith even reportedly received 20 pages of the script for Bad Boys 4 before the event. The infamous incident set in motion the cancelation or suspension of all Will Smith projects moving forward and his resignation from the Academy.
Chris Rock hosted the 2022 Oscars, and while on stage, he made a joke concerning Jada Pinkett Smith’s alopecia. Will then took to the stage to slap Chris Rock in the middle of the ceremony. Though the action had reverberating consequences, the Bad Boys actor was still able to walk away with an Oscar for his performance in King Richard. It was unfortunate, as the Oscars had several triumphs that were completely overshadowed by Smith’s actions. So, Bad Boys 4 won’t be hitting the big screen any time soon, and neither will any other Will Smith project. His Bad Boys co-star Martin Lawrence will have to look for other projects.
In 2020, Martin Lawrence said in interviews that Martin wasn’t canceled and that he had, in fact, made the decision to end the show and move on with his career. He and Campbell, as well as the rest of the Martin cast, appear to have mended fences at least, as the group has reunited several times in the past decade. Nonetheless, Martin Lawrence’s show ended after five seasons and won’t be returning.
