Bling Empire star Kevin Kreider has revealed he was paid lower than a UPS driver whereas filming three seasons of the hit Netflix actuality present – and that now he can’t even afford a automobile resulting from actuality stars’ criminally low wages.
The 39-year-old actor starred in all three seasons of the unscripted docu-series that adopted the lives of rich, materialistic East and Southeast Asian Americans within the Los Angeles space earlier than it was shelved final 12 months.
Kevin was a part of the primary forged and first appeared on display screen with the late billionaire heiress Anna Shay, who died “unexpectedly” in June after struggling a stroke on the age of 62.
Despite starring alongside a sequence of shockingly rich forged members, Kevin was not from the identical background and was positioned as an outsider on the present and sometimes handled to lavish items from Shay.
Getting actual about actuality present pay: Kevin Kreider has revealed he made lower than a UPS driver for his time on Bling Empire
Beware: the 39-year-old actor can’t afford his personal car and sometimes depends on pals for lifts
In an unique dialog with DailyMail.com, Kevin has now make clear how little he made — regardless of the grueling film schedule — and the way the celebrity of being on tv doesn’t essentially translate to a lifetime of luxurious.
It comes after former Love Is Blind star Nick Thompson revealed he’s getting ready to shedding his house after paying lower than minimal wage for his efficiency on season two of the relationship present.
“UPS employees were paid more than I was, and they have benefits,” he mentioned. “That’s how little we got paid.”
For context, a UPS supply driver can anticipate to earn about $18 per hour, with a warehouse bundle handler taking house an identical wage. The minimal wage within the state of California is $15.50 in comparison with $15 nationwide minimal wage.
“I heard how much a friend of mine made on a pilot and he wasn’t even the lead, yet he made more than I did on an entire season of Bling Empire,” he continued. “I worked my ass off for Bling. I mean, I was literally filming almost every day.
‘We had to be available for almost a whole year. I dragged my ass to like three, six hour long interviews. So if you add up the hours, I probably worked below minimum wage.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to Netflix for comment.
“If we went to another season, I would definitely get paid more fairly, but being a newer show, we didn’t get paid as much,” Kevin mentioned.
Renting Stuck: Kevin can’t get out of the Los Angeles actual property rental cycle both
Hustling: Kevin instructed DailyMail.com that he “worked his ass off” for Bling Empire and filmed nearly “every day”
Core forged member: Kevin starred in all three seasons of the unscripted docu-series, which was canceled final 12 months
Not all glitz and glamour: He revealed that simply because he starred within the Netflix sequence, he’s “not just sitting here (on) Easy Street”
“As a minority, no one tells you to bust your ass,” he added. “I rush to get brand deals.
“In reality TV, you either get paid nothing or nothing at all.”
Kevin identified that studios lure you in with the concept of branding and recognition, however in fact being profitable after a present airs is rarely assured.
“I go to all those empty promise network deals, I speak events, I write a memoir, novels, comic books, high profile deals, like all this stuff, but none of it came to me, I had to go out and get it. So it’s not like I’m sitting here (on) Easy Street.’
Kevin pulled the curtain on Hollywood’s supposed glamor and luxury, opening up about his financial situation, sharing that while he’s made enough to get by, he’s not swimming in cash.
“I can’t buy a house in Los Angeles, I still have to rent,” he mentioned. “I don’t even have a car because I chose to live in a nicer apartment. It was either downgrade and rent a studio and have a car or have a nicer bedroom and not have a car.
“I still have friends who pick me up and take me places, you know, it’s not that great.”
Other World: Bling Empire adopted the lives of rich, materialistic East and Southeast Asian Americans within the Los Angeles space
While Kevin helps the continuing SAG-AFRA and WGA strikes, he opposes the concept that actuality stars are additionally taking industrial motion.
“Reality TV is always used as a backup,” he mentioned. “I understand why there is a strike. I kind of wish the reality TV people would be on strike too and at the same time I wish they weren’t because right now that’s the only thing I make money with.
“I really wish TV would reward the talent that is so unique and rare…and I’d like to be paid better because there were tons of viewers (on Bling Empire) and we didn’t make a dime.”
On Thursday, SAG-AFRA acknowledged that it stood behind Real Housewives of New York alum Bethenny Frankel and fellow actuality stars of their mission to unite.
While Kevin emphasised his hopes that actors and actuality stars would be a part of forces, he feels shunned by the performing world as a result of he has labored in actuality tv. “A lot of actors look down on reality TV people,” he famous.
“There’s a bit of an ego fight there where they think we’re affecting their craft, but they’re making it harder by not accepting us.
“You know, I use a lot of my acting skills to help me with the show to get the best out of myself and the storytelling. And so I really wish the acting community would have a little more respect.
‘I want to be seen as a serious actor and artist, that’s where I come from. I don’t want to be pigeonholed into just doing reality TV shows. But what’s sad is that even my friends who are in TV and film only see me like that. And it’s a bit sad because that’s not where I’m from.’
Giving his verdict: Kevin wasn’t surprised that Bling Empire was canceled by Netflix
In a nutshell: Bring Empire premiered in January 2021, with season two in May 2022 and the third and final series in October 2022
Bling Empire was canned by Netflix in April, six months after its final season aired. Kevin said he was “not surprised” that the present was shelved.
“I knew our viewership wasn’t that strong,” he mentioned. “The pandemic was the perfect formulation for us to succeed because no one was filming and everyone was watching Netflix and all the online streaming platforms, so we had a great opportunity there.
“The pandemic was also a perfect recipe for the disaster of Bling Empire because it exploded so big, so fast and then all of a sudden you mix fame with narcissism and rich people and control.”
The second season filmed throughout the pandemic as lockdown restrictions started to ease.
“We didn’t have any bling bling about season two because all we can do is go to restaurants, and you couldn’t even have real life stuff because people weren’t doing real life stuff except stay home.”
Kevin revealed that he believes white privilege performed a job in Bling Empire’s demise, including, “Netflix’s number one reality shows right now didn’t even have a good rating for the first and second seasons, but they got another opportunity.
“We weren’t that strong and they canceled us.
“We are Asians, we are hard on ourselves, we come from a privileged position, I get that. I don’t think we were the easiest cast ever to work with. People didn’t show up like it was a job. I think a lot of us got a little too stubborn, a little too far ahead.”