Wheel of Fortune' Hit With Race Discrimination Claims by Former Employees
The former employees, who were laid off in April, filed their complaints in California.
Meghan Roose
Two popular game shows are facing allegations of racial discrimination in new complaints filed in California by two former employees.
Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune are both under fire for allegedly discriminating against former employees and contestants, according to copies of the complaints obtained by USA Today.
The two complainants, who both once worked for Sony Pictures Entertainment, alleged that they received fewer opportunities on the job and were paid less than their white coworkers. The complaints also alleged that the former employees heard some of their former colleagues make jokes about a Black contestant’s hairstyle, and observed other racially insensitive incidents during their decades with the company.
The complainants were identified by USA Today as Shelley Ballance Ellis and Monique Diaz, who worked on the shows for 26 and 23 years, respectively. While both former employees were laid off back in April as what was described as a corporate reorganization, Ballance Ellis alleged that “I and others were targeted by Sony because we opposed discrimination,” according to the media outlet’s review of the complaints.
Related: Pat Sajak's Final 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' Season Delayed for Surprising Reason
Diaz said she discovered at one point during her time at the company that a white coworker who was hired after her and had the same responsibilities was earning an estimated $50,000 more than she was, though her complaint to human resources about the salary inequity received no response, USA Today reported. Diaz told the media outlet that she “felt the environment was very discriminatory.”
Ballance Ellis, who said she was repeatedly overlooked for promotions despite taking on more responsibilities over the course of her career, told USA Today that she is hopeful taking this action will provide “an opportunity for any entertainment executive to look at themselves and really, take an open, honest look.”
In a statement shared with Parade, a rep for Sony Pictures Entertainment said the company "takes all allegations of discrimination very seriously" and reiterated the initial explanation that these employees were let go to address its "evolving business needs."
"Earlier this year there was a broad reorganization of our game show group that resulted in the elimination of several roles to address redundancies and evolving business needs of a 40+-year-old operation. Those eliminations were business efficiency decisions and not retaliatory," the statement continued, "Further, the past few years have been a time of significant transition and internal reorienting for Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, driven by a new leadership team who are profoundly dedicated to fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect. We are anchored to these values as we usher in a new era for our game shows with tenacity and circumspection."
It will be up to the California Civil Rights Department to review the complaints alleging Sony Pictures Entertainment violated the state’s civil rights laws and decide whether or not to move forward.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings