Los Angeles (AP) — Former star of “Atlanta’s Real Housewife” Nene Leaks sued the company behind the show on Wednesday, claiming to foster and tolerate a hostile and racist work environment. bottom.
According to a proceeding filed in a federal court in Atlanta, black Leaks complained to executives about racist remarks from white housewife Kim Zolchak Biaman, but Leaks alone resulted. there were.
NBCUniversal, Bravo, production companies True Entertainment and Truly Original, executives of these companies, and executive producer Andy Cohen of the “housewife” have been appointed as defendants, but Zolciak-Biermann has not.
“NBC, Bravo and True foster a corporate and work culture that allows for racist and inappropriate behavior, otherwise they are encouraged,” the proceedings said.
The email sent to the defendant and the representative of Zolciak-Biermann for comment was not immediately returned.
WikiLeaks, 54, is a television personality whose official name is Linesia Mony Creaks. From 2008 to 2020, she spent seven seasons as one of the core stars of “Atlanta’s Real Housewives.”
During the first season aired in 2008, the cast claimed to have planned to attend the barbecue, and housewife Kim Zolchak Biaman responded to the idea with “words of effect:” rice field. Eat chicken with NeNe. The proceedings “perpetuated the unpleasant stereotypes of African Americans.”
According to the lawsuit, during the fifth season of 2012, Zolciak-Biermann made “racist and stereotypical” comments about the new housewife Kandi Burruss, calling her neighborhood “Ghetto”. Persistent racial stereotypes with offensive comments about whether Burruss are needed. Pool.
That same year, the proceedings alleged that Zolciak-Biermann used the N word to refer to them after a dispute with Leak and other housewives. Zorchak Biaman also claims to have falsely suggested that WikiLeaks is using drugs and called her home a “cockroach’s nest.”
The proceedings, after Leak’s complaint to the executives overseeing the show, said they “did not end the relationship with Zolchak Biaman and other meaningful actions to put an end to her racist behavior. I didn’t take it. ” Her own spin-off show.
“Since the series began filming, NeNe has been the target of systematic racism from co-star Kim Zolchak Biaman and has been tolerated by Bravo executive producer Andy Cohen and other executives. “Leaks lawyer David Delbertis said in a statement.
“There is no day when Nene is awakened by an overwhelming emotional onslaught as a direct result of these unfortunate and avoidable events,” said Joe Habucky, another WikiLeaks lawyer. ..
The proceedings allege that her dissatisfaction with racism partly led to Leak being expelled from the show in 2020, 13 seasons ago.
According to the lawsuit, the negotiations for WikiLeaks this season took place when the Black Lives Matter movement gained a lot of momentum and WikiLeaks became a vocal supporter.
Executives argued that the housewife tried to keep her away from early episodes dealing with BLM and avoid talking about the cause of the leak, the proceedings claim.
“When the Black Lives Matter movement swept our country, Mrs. Leaks, Bravo’s most successful black woman talent, should have been accepted by NBC, Bravo and True,” the proceedings said. I am saying. She got out of the “house she built” and denied her normal role. “
The proceedings allege that the defendant’s actions violate federal employment and non-discrimination laws and require that monetary damages be decided in court.
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