CBS Studios and its parent Paramount are facing a lawsuit alleging that they have implemented diversity quotas that discriminate against straight white men. The lawsuit, filed in California federal court, claims that the companies have promoted the hiring of less qualified applicants who belong to preferred groups such as minorities, LGBTQ individuals, and women.
The plaintiff, a script coordinator for SEAL Team, alleges that he was repeatedly denied a staff writer position due to the alleged illegal policy of race and sex balancing. The lawsuit seeks at least $500,000 in damages and a court order to make the plaintiff a full-time producer on the series, as well as to stop the use of discriminatory hiring practices.
The lawsuit is being pursued by the America First Legal Foundation, a conservative group founded by a former White House policy adviser. The organization has been filing complaints against major companies over alleged discriminatory hiring practices.
The lawsuit comes in the wake of a Supreme Court decision that struck down race-conscious admissions in colleges and universities. Legal experts anticipate a rise in reverse discrimination lawsuits challenging diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in various industries.
The complaint alleges that CBS has implemented racial quotas in its hiring practices. The network's chief executive reportedly set a goal for writers rooms to be made up of at least 40 percent minorities for the 2021-22 season.
The lawsuit raises concerns about the legality of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that explicitly consider race. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Department of Justice maintain that Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race, religion, and sex.
While a federal judge dismissed an investor lawsuit against Starbucks over its diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, the legal landscape surrounding corporate DEI initiatives remains complex.
