Jennifer Esposito starred as Detective Jackie Curatola on "Blue Bloods." The series airs at 9 p.m. Fridays on CBS, channel 6. JOHN P. FILO/CBS
The battle between "Blue Bloods" actress Jennifer Esposito and CBS is heating up.
The actress told Fox News Channel's Arthel Neville Sunday that she has been told she is on suspension, reported radaronline.com this weekend.
"Last week I was told I was on suspension, which meant I am still in contract, not being paid," said Esposito, who was told by doctors in October to take a week off to care for her celiac disease and reduce her workload. But the network would not let her return to work, according to the website.
"Jennifer has informed us that she is only available to work on a very limited part-time schedule,” according to a network statement posted on deadline.com.
"As a result, she's unable to perform the demands of her role, and we regretfully had to put her character on a leave of absence."
The "suspension" prevents the actress from working on any other television show, she told the website.
"I can do a film or a Broadway or something on cable that doesn't go in the 10 o'clock time slot. So they kept me in my contract without pay and yes it's completely illegal but they also knew that I didn't have the money or the means to sue them.
"I have been in the business for twenty years; there has been so many things of injustice that happens in this business. It's what you sign up for; it is what it is.
"This, though, is something that is not about me, I feel. This is about a disease that people don't understand," And what went on after, it makes me sick," said the actress.
Her interview aired Sunday on Fox Files.
Esposito had played Donnie Wahlberg's partner Jackie Curatola on the CBS cop drama since the show's debut in 2010.
Those who suffer from celiac disease cannot process gluten which is found in many foods like bread, pasta, cookies and cakes, reported the website.
The actress talks about her disease online at
tulsaworld.com/jenniferesposito
