*The woman who previously filed a lawsuit against Vin Diesel in December 2023 for sexual battery is now suing screenwriter John Ridley for discrimination.
According to Deadline, Asta Jonasson claims that after complaining about being overlooked for promotions at ABC, she was terminated in 2022 after more than a decade with the company, allegedly in retaliation.
In the lawsuit, Jonasson, a former director of development, said she was underpaid and overworked.
Asta alleges that Ridley consistently passed over her for new opportunities, showing preference towards white men and women. She also noted “the hypocrisy of his public positions on civil rights,” as they do not align with how he treated her in the workplace.
“On multiple occasions, Jonasson complained to Ridley about the hypocrisy of his public positions on civil rights and his private failure to pay Jonasson, a woman of color, commensurate with her skill, effort, and responsibility,” the lawsuit states. “Ridley’s hypocrisy continues to this day, with the premiere of his film Shirley, a biographical film based on the life of Shirley Chisholm: the first black woman to be elected to the United States Congress and a vocal proponent of equal pay and women’s rights.”
Asta claimed she lodged her complaints with ABC, but the company failed to act appropriately against Ridley.
“Jonasson also complained to ABC about this unlawful discrimination, but ABC failed to take any remedial action,” the suit continues. “In 2021, ABC and Ridley/IFPRPC hired Shannon Rhoades, a white woman, to perform tasks that Jonasson was already performing, but for substantially more money. Jonasson reiterated her complaints of discrimination. In response, her employment was summarily and wrongfully terminated by ABC and Ridley/IFPRPC.
The woman is suing Ridley, ABC, and Disney for gender, racial, and economic discrimination. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
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