Jon Lovitz: Furor Over Pay Discrepancy Is "Ridiculous"
By Chris Stigall
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Chris Stigall spoke with comedian Jon Lovitz this morning on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT about equal pay in Hollywood a day after the Fair Pay Act failed to survive a Senate filibuster.
Lovitz commented on a report stating the pay discrepancy between Robert Downey Jr., the highest paid actor in 2013, and Angelina Jolie, the highest paid actress, at almost $42 million, calling it ridiculous.
"The reason Robert made that much was because of the movie he was in. It's strictly business. It was Iron Man. When you make those deals, you get a percentage of the movie. It made so much money. That's why he made so much, because the movie did. Her movies don't make anywhere near as much as his movies. So, in a way, she got paid more. If she was Iron Man and had the same deal as him, she would've made the same amount of money."
He also addressed the tax rate he faces, being a successful comedian living in California.
"It's gone up way over 50 percent. At some point, you say "why am I working?' What's the point of making more money if I can't keep it anyway? There is no point. It adds up with state, city, property [taxes]"
Lovitz said it is not right for the government to take so much of people's earnings.
"I don't think it's fair. Why should you give half the money you make back? I don't care if you make $20,000 a year, should you give back $10,000? There's so many taxes. In California they raised the state tax that was like 9.25 percent and now it's like 13 percent, so all these businesses are leaving California. They're saying it's not worth it anymore."
Lovitz will be performing at Helium Comedy Club tonight, tomorrow and Saturday. For tickets, visit heliumcomedy.com.
