We may think that celebrities, in general, get an extra level of special treatment when they attend professional sporting events. After all, they can afford to set courtside and bring entourages who spend money as well. However, we may not realize that certain celebrities may be treated differently because of their race.
This notion is manifested in a recent lawsuit filed against the Atlanta Hawks organization. A former security manager recently filed a suit after being terminated. The purported reasons (poor performance) is alleged to be pretext for the real reason for his firing: complaining about different standards for celebrity guests at Philips Arena.
The employee complained that his managers would demand “extra tight security” for events catering to African American audiences, and the same would not be requested for shows that white audiences would attend. He also complained about African American celebrities such as Kanye West, Drake, Tyler Perry and Future were denied requests to bypass security while white celebrities, including Amy Schumer, Bon Jovi and Adele were not denied similar requests.
The Atlanta Hawks and Philips Arena personnel deny these allegations and vow to defend them vigorously. Nevertheless, speaking out against potentially illegal activities is a right that must be protected. The story exemplifies the need for experienced employment law attorneys to support those who feel that they have been wronged because of the color of their skin in the workplace.
If you believe you are a victim of racial discrimination in the office, an experienced employment law attorney can advise you.