Wendell Pierce Claims Discrimination in Trying to Rent a Harlem Apartment

The acclaimed actor Wendell Pierce says his rental application for an apartment in Harlem was denied by a white landlord, and he believes racism is the reason.

Mr. Pierce, who is Black, shared his experience on X in a post on Monday night that quickly garnered thousands of comments and shares.

In the post, he described his “righteous anger” and said that “Even with my proof of employment, bank statements and real estate holdings, a white apartment owner DENIED my application to rent the apartment.” The apartment was, Mr. Pierce wrote, “in Harlem, of all places.”

“Racism and bigots are real,” he continued. “There are those who will do anything to destroy life’s journey for Black folks. When you deny our personal experiences, you are as vile and despicable.”

Mr. Pierce, 60, is best known for playing Detective Bunk Moreland on HBO’s “The Wire,” and has stepped into starring television roles on “Suits,” “Treme” and “Jack Ryan.” He currently appears in the Starz drama “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” and the CBS comedy-drama “Elsbeth.”

In addition to his screen work, Mr. Pierce, who trained at Juilliard, is active on the stage. He was a producer of the 2012 Tony Award-winning play “Clybourne Park,” and he was nominated for a Tony himself in 2023 for his performance as Willy Loman in the Broadway revival of “Death of a Salesman.”