In Season 3 of Sanford and Son, Redd Foxx suddenly disappeared from several episodes. The reason? A bitter contract dispute that exposed the tension between network execs and one of comedy’s boldest voices.
Foxx, who felt underpaid and disrespected, walked off set midweek, leaving writers scrambling to rewrite scripts without Fred Sanford. For weeks, the show continued with Lamont as the lead.
While some networks painted Foxx as “difficult,” insiders say he was standing up for equity and recognition in an era when Black stars were still fighting for fair treatment.
“He wasn’t just fighting for himself—he was fighting for every Black performer who came after him,” said a former producer. Foxx eventually returned—but the legacy of his stand remains.
