Broadway Producers File Grievance Against Jeremy Piven

Jeremy Piven pulled out of his Broadway show after suffering from mercury poisoning from apparently eating too much sushi, but it appears the producers of the show think the actor’s story is fishy.

The producers of “Speed The Plow” have filed a grievance over Piven’s departure from the play, Access Hollywood has learned.

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The grievance was filed with Actors’ Equity, the union which handles Broadway performers.

In December, it was reported Piven was ending his run in the show due to a condition caused by a high mercury count.

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At the time, “Speed The Plow” playwright David Mamet made light of Piven’s announcement.

“I talked to Jeremy on the phone, and he told me that he discovered that he had a very high level of mercury,” Mamet told Variety. “So my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer.”

But despite Mamet’s skepticism, Piven’s physician told Access Hollywood he was the one responsible for the “Entourage” star pulling out of the play after Piven’s mercury limit was six times higher than normal.

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“I’m the one who pulled the plug,” Dr. Carlton Colker told Access, who went on to explain the reason behind Piven’s high mercury levels. “He was a voracious sushi eater… He ate sushi twice a day for years.”

At the Golden Globes, Access’Billy Bush caught up with Piven to talk about his health scare.

“It completely shuts you down. It feels like the heaviest bout of mono you’ve ever had in your life. You’re kind of crippled from it,” Piven said of the mercury poisoning. “I fought the good fight, my doctors propped me up and then doctor’s orders was enforced rest. That’s what I’ve been doing for a month and here I am.”

The actor then confirmed he is on his way to recovery.

“I’m doing so much better. I really am,” he added.

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