Despite being one of the most in-demand and highest-paid comedians in the game, Amy Schumer has had to fight for equal pay. The 36-year-old reportedly renegotiated her Netflix contract after learning how much more money her male counterparts were earning.
The news was revealed in a recent Variety story that addressed wage gaps between white men, women, and minorities. Schumer was initially set to earn $11 million for the taping of The Leather Special, her first stand-up special for the streaming service; however, her team went back and asked for money dough after it was reported that Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle had inked $20 million deals for each of their Netflix specials. Rock had agreed to do two shows for $40 million, while Chappelle agreed to do three for $60 million.
Thankfully for Schumer, her demands were met. A source told Variety that Netflix agreed to significantly increase her pay, but the exact amount has not been made public. It was a rare win for female entertainers, but not everyone on social media was happy about Schumer’s victory.
Again, it's important to note that Schumer's salary has not been disclosed, and that she insists she never asked for the same amount of money that Rock and Chappelle received. The comedian addressed this in an Instagram post Wednesday afternoon, writing: "Thanks for chiming in on what you feel I deserve to be paid. I believe women deserve equal pay. However I don't believe I deserve equal pay to Chris and Dave. They are legends and 2 of the greatest comics of all time [...] I didn't ask for the same as my friends. I did ask for more than the initial offer. I will continue to work my ass off and be the best performer I can be."
