Marla Gibbs’ portrayal of Florence, the sarcastic maid, was a highlight of The Jeffersons. But during the filming of Season 7, Gibbs walked off set mid-rehearsal and refused to come back until producers addressed a disturbing incident she kept quiet for years.
It started when she arrived at her dressing room to find the door wide open and the inside vandalized—with the words “Not Welcome” scribbled across her mirror.
According to a stage manager, it happened after Gibbs had been outspoken about pay disparities between her and white supporting actors.
“She was pushing for equality—and not everyone liked that,” he said.
Marla didn’t say a word. She calmly walked off set and went home. No explanation.
The next day, Norman Lear himself visited her to apologize and reportedly ordered a full security review and a private investigation.
While the culprit was never publicly named, cast and crew were quietly reshuffled, and Marla was promoted to lead her own spinoff, 227, soon after.
What happened in that dressing room wasn’t just vandalism—it was a warning. But Gibbs turned it into a turning point.
