Two former executives of the popular game shows “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” have filed civil rights complaints against Sony Pictures Entertainment, alleging racial discrimination, gender bias, and age discrimination in the workplace.
Shelley Ballance Ellis, a Black production executive, and Monique Diaz, a Latina colleague, filed complaints with California’s Civil Rights Department and the National Labor Relations Board, detailing allegations of systemic discrimination and a toxic work environment at the shows.
Ellis, who previously served as Executive Director of Licensing and Clearance at Sony Pictures Entertainment, claims that despite her 26 years at the company, she was consistently passed over for promotions while being given additional responsibilities.
She reported that during a 2020 “Wheel of Fortune” production meeting, a Black employee overheard colleagues mocking a Black woman’s locs (dreadlocks), comparing them to those in the movie “The Elephant Man.” When confronted about the remarks, Ballance Ellis says a producer dismissed them as merely a joke, prompting her to challenge the statement by asking what part was funny.
Diaz, who worked in the same department, claims that during a 2020 meeting, a production supervisor mocked Leslie Jones’ request to have her hairstylist present when she appeared on the show as a celebrity contestant. In 2023, she recounted that a co-worker mentioned how a supervising producer remarked that Black people’s skin does not age as quickly as white people’s skin. Diaz described the environment as highly discriminatory.
The complaints allege that workers of color faced years of discriminatory practices, including pay inequity and racially insensitive behavior. According to the filings, Diaz discovered she was earning $50,000 less than a newly hired white colleague performing the same work.
The complaints also cite concerns about the airing of inappropriate footage of Southern plantations on “Wheel of Fortune” and the dismissal of workers’ concerns regarding racial bias in “Jeopardy!” game questions.
Ellis, the highest-ranking Black production executive on the shows, claims her career advancement was stunted. The executives’ attorneys stated, “What happened behind the scenes was unlawful under our civil rights laws.“
Both executives were terminated in April as part of what Sony Pictures Entertainment described as a “broad reorganization” to address “redundancies and evolving business needs.” The company denied the terminations were retaliatory and stated that the past few years have been a time of “significant transition” for the shows, with a new leadership team committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect.
The allegations extend beyond individual experiences, including systemic issues within the shows’ production environment. The complaints reference historical context, including past concerns about diversity, such as Maya Angelou’s 1995 boycott of “Jeopardy!” over its lack of diverse contestants.
The California Civil Rights Department and the National Labor Relations Board will investigate the allegations of discrimination and retaliation against Sony Pictures Entertainment.
