csi | Aug. 4th, 2004

Jorja Fox (Sara Sidle) today denied she was fired from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation last month because she was holding out for a higher salary.

"I can say that it absolutely wasn't over money," Fox, who has since signed an agreement to return to the forensic drama, told Newsday's Liz Smith. "But I can also say it is still something of a mystery to me. I mean, I don't act for money. That's not where I live, so to speak."

Fox and co-star George Eads (Nick Stokes) were fired by CBS after they allegedly failed to reply to a letter from executives asking the CSI actors to assure the network that they would report to the set for the first day of shooting. Although Fox reportedly did send in her letter, she was sacked by the network the night before filming was slated to begin.

Here's how the actress described the dispute: "Well, it was over this letter that we were all asked to sign about reporting to work, and I'd really never seen such a letter in my life - my professional life - and I think they didn't like my response ... I just don't think the punishment fit the 'crime'."

The Hollywood trade papers reported Fox was rehired at her old salary (reportedly $100,000 per episode), but the actress said she was in fact offered a raise when she returned to CSI. But since her co-star George Eads had yet to be rehired, she turned CBS down. "George's head was still on the block - it would have looked like I was dancing on his misfortune. And, again, that's not what it was about.

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