Jeremy Piven Sued Over Fishy Claims

by Elizabeth Fairview | January 17th, 2009

Jeremy Piven appeared on the Good Morning America to plead his case with Diane Sawyer. (ABC Images)

Jeremy Piven abruptly ditched David Mamet's Broadway play Speed-the-Plow claiming he had six times the levels of mercury in his body due to eating too much sushi. However, producers of the play weren't buying Piven's story, considering the actor was partying after every show – and now they're suing him.

The AP reports: "They have filed a grievance with Actors' Equity Association, the stage actors' union, against Jeremy Piven for abruptly leaving the Broadway revival last month. Piven quit the David Mamet comedy less than two months after it opened to favorable reviews at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. The actor's doctor said Piven was unable perform because of high levels of mercury in his system, possibly caused by eating large amounts of raw fish."

Piven told People, "'The only protein I got for 20 years was from fish. I kind of thought I was doing the right thing … As soon as I heard this, I stopped all fish whatsoever.'"