Former reality star of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” NeNe Leakes sued the companies behind the show alleging that they tolerated a hostile and racist work environment.
The law suit filed in federal court in Atlanta says “Leakes, who is Black, complained to executives about years of racist remarks from fellow housewife Kim Zolciak-Biermann, who is white, but that only Leakes suffered consequences.”
The lawsuit also names defendats NBCUniversal, Bravo, production companies True Entertainment and Truly Original, executives from the companies and “Housewives” execytive producer Andy Cohen, but not Zolciak-Biermann.
“NBC, Bravo and True foster a corporate and workplace culture in which racially-insensitive and inappropriate behavior is tolerated – if not, encouraged,” the suit says.
It alleges that during season one back in 2008, the cast was planning a barbecue and housewife Kim Zoliak-Biermann, responded to the idea with something along the lines of: “I don’t want to sit around with NeNe and et chicken.” And the suit says “perpetuated an offensive sterotype about African-Americans.”
The suit says in 2012 during the fifth season, Zolciak-Biermann made “racially offensive and stereotypical” comments about the new home of housewife Kandi Burruss, calling her neighborhood a “ghetto” and perpetuating a racial stereotype in an offensive comment about whether Burruss needed a swimming pool. That same year, Zolciak-Biermann used the N-word to refer to Leakes and other of the housewives after a dispute with them, the suit alleges. It also alleges Zolciak-Biermann falsely implied that Leakes used drugs and called her home a “roach nest.”
The suit alleges that the defendants’ actions violate federal employment and anti-discrimination law, and it seekd monetary damages to be determined at trial.
Representatives for NBCUniverals decilined to comment.
