Online backlash has led to an early exit for Vine star Curtis Lepore from Rainn Wilson's new comedy "Hollywood and Vine."
Lepore faced charges of rape against his ex-girlfriend and Vine star Jessi Smiles earlier this year. He later pled guilty to the lesser charge felony assault, but Vine fans didn't forget his trespasses.
Wilson announced his new 30-minute TV comedy series about five Vine stars including Lepore, Jerry Purpdrank, Lele Pons, Simone Shepherd and Christian DelGrosso on Oct. 20. The online objections to Lepore's involvement led to him exiting the show five days later.
"After much consideration, the decision was made with Curtis Lepore to mutually part ways on SoulPancake's television project featuring Vine stars," Wilson wrote on his Facebook page on Oct. 24. "We felt this was the best decision for everyone involved. We wish Curtis all the best in all his future endeavors."
Lepore met Smiles through the six-second video app last summer and soon after met in person in New York City in front of hundreds of their Vine fans, according to TMZ. Smiles went to visit Lepore in Los Angeles in August 2013, but reunion didn't go well and they broke up.
A few days later, Lepore offered to take care of Smiles after she suffered a concussion shooting a Vine video. She claimed he came over and after she fell asleep, he allegedly raped her, sources told TMZ.
"Hollywood and Vine" comes from Wilson's production company SoulPancake. The show will follow "the lives of five social media stars at the intersection of life as Millennials trying to cross over into traditional Hollywood," according to Deadline. Wilson will produce the show written by Lance Krall.
"We believe this show is going to be the first to celebrate these amazing, talented Viners in an authentic way and bring their style of humor to a broader audience," Wilson said. "Plus, who doesn't love a six-second twerk?"
