. Local lawmakers are calling for any and all tax breaks to the Showtime comedy to be suspended pending an investigation into its star's on-set behavior.
SMILF's tax credits may be in jeopardy.
Amid an ABC investigation into creator and star Frankie Shaw's allegedly inappropriate behavior on set, lawmakers in Massachusetts — where the Boston-set series shoots — are calling for the show's tax incentives to be suspended pending the outcome of the studio's probe. Some local lawmakers and activists are also calling on the state's Attorney General's office to launch a separate and independent investigation into the matter.
"We write to express our concerns regarding the investigation of ABC’s production, SMILF, due to allegations of harassment, civil rights violations and unfair labor practices existing on the show," reads a letter to the state's office of housing and economic development. "[W]e do not believe that taxpayers in Massachusetts should be subsidizing this production, especially not until an independent investigation has been completed."
The letter was signed by state senators Nick Collins and Sonia Chang-Diaz, along with at least a dozen other state representatives (see the full letter, below). The move would impact SMILF's most recent second season, which was filmed in the state in 2018, which means the studio must apply for the tax credits in 2019. Projects that film in the state and spend more than $50,000 in qualified expenditures are eligible to receive a 25 percent tax credit.
"As someone in the legislature and a woman of color, I found the allegations concerning ABC’s production of the show SMILF — which was based in our city — to be appalling," said state representative Liz Miranda, who signed the letter. "To me, if this production has applied for any tax credits, I feel like there needs to be a pause and there needs to be an independent investigation conducted by our AG."
