On April 26, 2017, Wigdor LLP held a press conference on behalf of thirteen clients that have alleged race discrimination against Fox News Network LLC, Judith Slater, former Controller and Senior Vice President of Accounting at Fox, and Dianne Brandi, Fox’s General Counsel. Eleven of the clients – Tichaona Brown, Tabrese Wright, Monica Douglas, Kelly Wright, Musfiq Rahman, Mark LeGrier, Mariela Lindsay, Vielka Rojas, Mauretta Thomas, Griselda Benson and Senami Tolode – have filed a proposed Class Action Complaint on behalf of all Black current or former employees of Fox News. Upon information and belief, there are more than 200 current and former Fox employees who could be part of the class.
Wigdor LLP’s press conference also addressed a complaint filed in the Federal Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of Adasa Blanco and against Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., Fox News Network LLC, Judith Slater, Dianne Brandi and Susan Lovallo. Ms. Blanco’s complaint described harrowing discrimination and alleges that Fox was aware of the discriminatory conduct at issue as early as September 2008, yet took no remedial action for eight and a half years.
During the press conference, Founding Partner Douglas Wigdor – flanked by 11 of Wigdor LLP’s clients, as well as Partner Jeanne Christensen and Senior Associate Michael Willemin – described, in detail, many of the discriminatory acts committed at Fox. Following Mr. Wigdor’s comments, current Fox News Anchor Kelly Wright described the uphill battle he has faced at Fox due to the color of his skin, including inequitable opportunities for career growth and advancement. Mr. Wright stressed that neither he nor any of our other clients are being controlled by any “left-wing conspirator group or [ ] financier to try to destroy Fox News.” Rather, Mr. Wright and our other clients have come forward to cure “the culture of systemic and institutional racial bias” at Fox. Mr. Wright concluded his statements at the press conference by revealing that more Fox anchors across America have contacted Wigdor LLP since the filing of the two complaints described above – a revelation confirmed by Mr. Wigdor.
NPR Here and Now
Interview with Partner Douglas Wigdor and Kelly Wright
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April 26, 2017
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