Slaven Vlasic/Getty ImagesJeremy Piven is getting a little steamed up—and it isn't from more toxic sushi.
A day after Speed-the-Plow's producers announced June 8-9 as the arbitration dates in the matter of Piven's abrupt departure from the Broadway production due to high mercury levels, the Entourage star says he's ready to take on his former bosses.
"Mr. Piven is looking forward to testifying in arbitration along with his doctors so that the truth comes out about the very serious health risks caused by mercury exposure, which the Obama administration has recently described as the world's gravest chemical problem," publicist Sam Mast said in a statement.
Stating that the producers' allegations are nothing more than "spin," Piven says he voluntarily offered medical information on his illness and his high mercury count after being examined by a physician, but Plow's producers repeatedly declined to see it.
The Emmy winner added that producers also nixed his suggestion to submit to an exam by their own doctor "both before, during and after his hospitalization for toxic mercury levels." Instead, they filed a grievance with Actor's Equity seeking to punish Piven.
As for producers' claim to protect his medical records from public dissemination, the Mercury Man said the union "is not aware of any such confidentiality proposal."
Piven concluded by knocking the Plow brain trust, calling their announcement of arbitration dates a ploy to intimidate actors into not seeking medical advice when they face serious health issues as a way to avoid future casting snags.
A rep for the production was unavailable for comment.