Tyler James Williams was just 13 years old when he landed the leading role in the hit sitcom Everybody Hates Chris, which aired over four seasons between 2005 and 2009.
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A few months ago, Tyler — who has been open about his “traumatic” experience of being a child star — addressed a long-running rumor about his Everybody Hates Chris earnings.
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During an interview with Complex, Tyler was asked about unverified reports that he was paid “$250,000 per episode” while on the sitcom. He replied, “Stop believing anything you see somebody put in big bold letters on the internet. It’s not correct.”
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“That’s not how the entertainment industry works,” he continued. “When you first come in on your first show, your quota’s really, really low. Thankfully, it’s not where it was back in the day, but no, that’s not true.”
Fast forward to today, and fellow former child star Keke Palmer — who starred in Nickelodeon’s True Jackson, VP, as well as various movies during her childhood — has recalled being left shocked when she discovered that Tyler had a black card at the age of 14.
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If you didn’t know, a black card is a luxury credit card that is often available only by invitation.
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Appearing on a recent Twitch livestream with rapper PlaqueBoyMax, Keke said, “Let me tell you a story. So, Tyler James, when we were kids, it was me, Tyler, a couple of the kids…from kid actor world, we were all together at Universal Citywalk when we were teenagers.”
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“We had to be like 13, 14,” she said. “We all hanging out, we all kicking it, and we go somewhere… Tyler James, 14, he pulls out a black card.”
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“We was like, ‘What the hell is that?!’ He was like, ‘It’s a black card,’” she recalled. “I just never forgot that moment! Like, 14? 14 with a black card!”
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Keke went on to claim that Tyler earned roughly $200,000 per episode on Everybody Hates Chris. “He was making like $200,000 an episode at that age!” she alleged. To clarify, Tyler has not disclosed how much he earned on the show.
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Keke — who became her family’s breadwinner at age 12 — noted that her earnings were very “different” than Tyler’s, adding, “He was on network.”
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The Twitch clip has since picked up steam online, with several users shocked at Keke’s revelation. “Black card at FOURTEEN?” one person tweeted, while another wrote, “14 with a black card? That’s not a kid, that’s a whole CEO.”
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“14 with a black card is WILD I hope his parents saved that money,” one more post read.
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At the same time, several people raised their eyebrows over Keke sharing Tyler’s personal business, especially given how recently he denied the reports about his earnings. “Talking about money like this is still tacky to me I’m not gonna lie. Especially about someone who is not there,” someone wrote. “Keke is the friend that talks too damn much,” another person said.
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“She’s giving me second hand embarrassment,” one more person added.
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