Amazon Studios has been sued by a post-production vendor who alleges he was blackballed after refusing to pay kickbacks to an Amazon employee.
Joe Eckardt, owner of Unbreakable Post, alleges he has been denied at least $1 million worth of work since refusing to participate in the scheme in 2023.
Eckardt has worked on “Temptation Island,” “Selling Sunset,” and many other reality shows. According to his complaint, he had lunch in July 2023 with Frank Salinas, the head of post-production at Amazon Studios’ unscripted division, who offered to make him one of the company’s “approved vendors” that would be eligible to bid on projects.
The suit alleges that Salinas offered to tell Eckardt the studio’s budget for post-production, allowing him to submit a bid that would be just below that figure, and effectively guaranteeing that he would be awarded the contract. Eckardt would then have to direct a percentage to All Star Media, Inc., a company registered in Salinas’ name, the suit alleges.
“My client was not comfortable with that at all,” said James Bryant, Eckardt’s attorney. “Ultimately it never went forward. What happened after that is that Frank blackballed him from any projects at Amazon Studios.”
Salinas did not respond to a voicemail message, and Amazon Studios did not respond to requests for comment.
The suit, filed on May 6, alleges that Eckardt was recommended for work on Season 3 of “Coach Prime,” an Amazon Studios show starring Deion Sanders. However, he was ultimately rejected — he claims, due to Salinas’ intervention.
He was also denied work on “Good Sports,” an Amazon show co-hosted by Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson, the suit alleges, along with work on “Temptation Island” and “LOL US.”
Eckardt complained anonymously to Amazon in June 2025, nearly two years after the lunch meeting, alleging that Salinas had retaliated against him for refusing to pay kickbacks. He later revealed his identity and further details — including documentation — to an Amazon ethics attorney, the suit alleges.
In December, the company informed him that its investigation had concluded his allegations were “not substantiated.”
The lawsuit states claims of conspiracy, negligent supervision, and interference with economic advantage.
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