The Young and the Restless alum Victoria Rowell has filed charges against entertainment company Sony for allegedly discriminating racial roots of the actress.
The African-American actress is suing producers of the popular soap The Young and the Restless, CBS Corp., Bell-Phillip Television Productions, Inc., Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television.
According to ABC News, Rowell claimed that she was denied of re-employment by CBS, which aired The Young and the Restless, following her public statement urging TV networks to employ more African-Americans in front and behind the camera.
In a press conference, the 55-year-old Rowell said: "This is not about me, but about the many, many other African-Americans denied the right to participate in front of and behind the camera on show."
Rowell called CBS' action not renewing her contracting to be "deep and broad retaliation" against her. She furthered that she will fight to seek justice.
A 35-page complaint filed in federal district court in New York last Tuesday suggests Rowell is asking "for back pay and for her job to be reinstated or, in lieu of immediate re-employment, to be given front pay and considered for employment in the future" apart from "consequential and punitive damages" and attorneys' fees.
Meanwhile, CBS sent a statement to ABC explaining what went down with the show and Rowell.
"We were disappointed to learn that, after leaving the cast of The Young and the Restless on her own initiative. We harbor no ill will toward Ms. Rowell, but we will vigorously defend this case."
Bell-Phillip, Sony and its subsidiaries have not released a statement regarding the issue as of this time.
Rowell starred in the hit noontime TV series The Young and the Restless as Drucilla Barber Winters year 1990. She received 11 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NACCP) Image awards for her portrayal.
She furthered that pleas from fans and influential friends to recast her on the show had been rejected every time.
Fox News reported that the actress said "she not only helped grow African-American viewership but helped create 12 other black full or recurring characters."
Actress informed that she left the soap in 2007 after years of experiencing racial discrimination on the set.
In the conference, Rowell narrated some of the "horrific behavior" she said she overcame. These include being "spat upon," "told you're a freak," "fined $20,000 for an alleged missed day of work" and being "told to keep price tags in my costume" so that they could be returned.
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