In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, Patricia Richardson, known for her role as Jill Taylor on the popular ABC sitcom Home Improvement, disclosed that a significant pay gap between herself and co-star Tim Allen led to her departure from the show.

Richardson expressed her firm stance on not continuing for a ninth season, stating, "I told everybody, 'There's not enough money in the world to get me to do a ninth year.' This show is over. It needs to end." Despite ABC's offer of $1 million per episode for Richardson and $2 million for Allen during a 25-episode ninth season, Richardson declined the offer.

Her decision stemmed from her desire to spend more time with her family following her divorce from Ray Baker. In a move to negotiate for equal pay and recognition, Richardson made a bold proposal to ABC: pay her the same amount as Allen and grant her an executive producer credit on the show. She admitted that she knew Disney would not agree to these terms, using it as a way to say 'no' and express her discontent with the pay disparity and lack of recognition.

"I knew that Disney would in no way pay me that much," Richardson shared with the Times. "That was my way to say 'no' and was a little bit of a flip-off to Disney. I'd been there all this time, and they never even paid me a third of what Tim was making, and I was working my ass off. I was a big reason why women were watching."

The long-running sitcom came to an end after its eighth season in 1999, resulting in strained relationships. Richardson voiced her frustrations towards Allen, stating, "I was mad at Tim because he was leaving me alone, being the only person saying no, which made me feel terrible and like the bad guy, and he was upset with me for leaving."

Despite the tension, Richardson and Allen eventually reunited on Allen's series Last Man Standing. Richardson expressed her ongoing fondness for working with Allen, affirming that she "never stopped loving working with him."

As the conversation surrounding pay equity in the entertainment industry continues, Richardson's revelation sheds light on the discrepancies she faced and contributes to the broader discussion on gender-based pay gaps.