*The popular game shows “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” are facing allegations of racial discrimination following complaints filed in California by two former employees.
According to AOL, the complaints against Sony Pictures Entertainment assert that both shows discriminated against former employees and contestants. The individuals involved claim they were given fewer job opportunities and lower pay compared to their white colleagues. Additionally, they reported inappropriate incidents such as hearing racially insensitive comments, including jokes about a Black contestant’s hairstyle.
The complainants, identified as Shelley Ballance Ellis and Monique Diaz, worked for 26 and 23 years, respectively with the game shows. Both women were laid off in April during a corporate restructuring at the company. Ballance Ellis alleged that “I and others were targeted by Sony because we opposed discrimination,” according to USA Today’s review of the complaints.
In a statement shared with Parade, a rep for Sony Pictures Entertainment said the company “takes all allegations of discrimination very seriously.”
“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,” the statement said.
The California Civil Rights Department will review the allegations that Sony Pictures Entertainment breached the state’s civil rights laws and determine the next steps.
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