Lionsgate Hit With Sex Discrimination Lawsuit By Ex-Development Executive

by

As a seasoned gamer with a keen eye for spotting patterns, I can’t help but see similarities between the gaming world and Hollywood when it comes to issues like sex discrimination. The “boy’s club” mentality isn’t exclusive to game development studios or production houses; it seems to be a lingering issue in various industries.

As a former game developer, I’ve found myself in a challenging situation. I used to work with Renegade Entertainment under Lionsgate, but things took a turn when I decided to take maternity leave. After my return, I was unexpectedly let go, and now I’m alleging that this termination was unlawful due to the timing of my leave.

As a gamer speaking, I recently learned about a lawsuit filed by Susan Merwin against the development department of a company named Renegade, part of Lionsgate’s division that includes Pilgrim Media Group for unscripted TV, as well as Blackfin and Daisybeck Studios under eOne’s unscripted groups. In this lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday, Susan claims the department was a “boy’s club” and is seeking unspecified damages.

Last year, Merwin informed the chief of development at Renegade that she was expecting a child. In May, she took maternity leave, and she claims she was let go by the company three months afterwards.

The lawsuit claims that she found out later on that, contrary to what she was informed, her position wasn’t abolished but rather her subordinate was appointed to it in June. She asserts that the person taking her place is significantly less competent compared to her.

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants secretly chose to fire an employee unlawfully and hire her junior instead, which is a despicable action.

Merwin also claims her supervisor excluded her and other female executives from meetings.

A representative from Lionsgate stated they won’t provide any information regarding ongoing legal matters. Among the shows under scrutiny are “Naked and Afraid”, “Selling Sunset”, and “Street Outlaws”.

Read More

2024-10-11 01:25