Porscha Coleman Sues “Hollywood Today Live” For Discrimination: Fired Over My hair & Not Having Kids!

Porscha Coleman

Porscha Coleman Sues “Hollywood Today Live” For Discrimination

Porscha Coleman says that she was unfairly fired from her hosting gig at Hollywood Today Live. The singer, actress and host is suing over claims that she was illegally axed over her appearance and not being a mother.

She’s suing Media General, Fox Entertainment and several individuals involved with the show for gender, race and marital status harassment, retaliation and discrimination — according to a new report.

According to the complaint, Coleman says the defendants.

Created a quid pro quo and hostile working environment in which harassment, discrimination and retaliation based on sex/gender, race and marital status were permitted, required, demanded, allowed and tolerated.

She began working on the show,  as the only black female host of Hollywood Today Live in May 2014. She was fired in November 2015.

When the TV series began, Coleman says the hair and makeup professionals didn’t have expertise with “female African-American hair” or “darker skin tones.” Coleman says that she was promised that she’d be provided with a hairdresser and makeup artist and, when she asked to bring in someone experienced, she was told to hire a black woman because it would “look better visually” in behind-the-scenes shots.

Coleman also claims that Tracy Taw (head of programmy at Fox) told her she didn’t appeal to Middle America and said to her in a meeting,

I’m trying to keep this show on past November and I don’t want your hair to be reason why the show doesn’t get picked up for season two.

She also claims that that Media General head of programming Tony Optican approached her “in an obvious attempt to shock absorb what had just happened and to ingratiate himself” and told her,

he understood black women because he dated them prior to marrying his wife.

In November, Coleman was fired and asked executive producer Steve Holtzer for an explanation, according to the complaint, and was told

they want mothers. You aren’t a mom.

Garcelle Beauvais

She was later replaced by Garcelle Beauvais, who is a mother. However, she says none of the other childless co-hosts were replaced.

Coleman says she,

Continues to suffer severe and permanent emotional and mental distress and anguish, humiliation, embarrassment, fright, shock, pain, discomfort and anxiety.

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