A Black former CBS Radio manager is seeking unspecified damages in the lawsuit. (CBS Philly)
CBS Radio has been hit with a lawsuit from a former employee who says she was fired after reporting racial and gender discrimination she experienced.
Makeda Alexander seeks unspecified damages in a lawsuit against CBS Radio and other entities alleging she was in “a hostile work environment” soon after starting her job in 2014, according to TheWrap.
Documents filed Tuesday, June 20, in a New York federal court say despite being a “stellar employee,” several instances of racial discrimination occurred, including some where co-workers uttered stereotypical phrases. Alexander, who worked as an account services manager, alleges one particular employee would yell, “B—-!” almost every day and would repeatedly bang on his desk as he shouted, “Shizzle my Nizzle!” at her. Other employees would allegedly shout, “Yeah, son!” as they passed the plaintiff’s desk several times a day. Alexander’s suit also alleges she suffered physical ailments as well as emotional distress because of her purported treatment.
“Plaintiff knew that Defendants’ constant use of slang was directed at her because of her race,” the lawsuit says. It also states Alexander was “hurt by the purposely mean-spirited” Snoop Dogg-esque taunt.
Alexander’s suit says she also was regularly called “Obama” to “intimidate, harass and taunt” her due to her Blackness. In an alleged gender-based instance, one of Alexander’s co-workers announced he had had a massage and said he liked “rub-n-tugs” the best.
The plaintiff says when she twice reported these incidents to her supervisors, no “reasonable or immediate action” was taken. Alexander claims she was fired in 2016 out of retaliation. Her dismissal was allegedly blamed on tardiness and failing to respond to an email, something other employees also apparently did but didn’t lose their jobs over.
“This claim is without merit,” CBS Radio told TheWrap.
