'Jeopardy!' and 'Wheel of Fortune' Hit With Race Discrimination Claims by Former Employees

Meghan Roos
·2-min read

Two popular game shows are facing allegations of racial discrimination in new complaints filed in California by two former employees.

Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune are both under fire for allegedly discriminating against former employees and contestants, according to copies of the complaints obtained by USA Today.

🤩🤩 SIGN UP for Parade's Trending News newsletter & we'll keep you in the know on the viral pop culture moments & celebrity news everyone is talking about 🗞️🗞️

The two complainants, who both once worked for Sony Pictures Entertainment, alleged that they received fewer opportunities on the job and were paid less than their white coworkers. The complaints also alleged that the former employees heard some of their former colleagues make jokes about a Black contestant’s hairstyle, and observed other racially insensitive incidents during their decades with the company.

The complainants were identified by USA Today as Shelley Ballance Ellis and Monique Diaz, who worked on the shows for 26 and 23 years, respectively. While both former employees were laid off back in April as what was described as a corporate reorganization, Ballance Ellis alleged that “I and others were targeted by Sony because we opposed discrimination,” according to the media outlet’s review of the complaints.

Related: Pat Sajak's Final 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' Season Delayed for Surprising Reason

Diaz said she discovered at one point during her time at the company that a white coworker who was hired after her and had the same responsibilities was earning an estimated $50,000 more than she was, though her complaint to human resources about the salary inequity received no response, USA Today reported. Diaz told the media outlet that she “felt the environment was very discriminatory.”

Ballance Ellis, who said she was repeatedly overlooked for promotions despite taking on more responsibilities over the course of her career, told USA Today that she is hopeful taking this action will provide “an opportunity for any entertainment executive to look at themselves and really, take an open, honest look.”

In a statement shared with Parade, a rep for Sony Pictures Entertainment said the company "takes all allegations of discrimination very seriously" and reiterated the initial explanation that these employees were let go to address its "evolving business needs."

"Earlier this year there was a broad reorganization of our game show group that resulted in the elimination of several roles to address redundancies and evolving business needs of a 40+-year-old operation. Those eliminations were business efficiency decisions and not retaliatory," the statement continued, "Further, the past few years have been a time of significant transition and internal reorienting for Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, driven by a new leadership team who are profoundly dedicated to fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect. We are anchored to these values as we usher in a new era for our game shows with tenacity and circumspection."

It will be up to the California Civil Rights Department to review the complaints alleging Sony Pictures Entertainment violated the state’s civil rights laws and decide whether or not to move forward.

Next: 'Wheel of Fortune' Contestant Misses Out on $1 Million After Failing 'Easy' Bonus Round Puzzle

Latest stories

  • Major Centrelink payment change for thousands of Aussies: 'Up to 24 months'

    The change is expected to benefit around 70,000 people who have to deal with an annoying issue in the system.

  • Popular ute recalled over defect

    An urgent recall has been issued for a top-selling ute over a manufacturing default that could cause death or injury.

  • Worker shocked after being fired by boss after two days: ‘Can’t believe’

    A boss has been blasted for firing a worker after two days and giving him no explanation.

  • ANZ customers score $630 cash boost after 'unfair' interest charges: 'Pretty happy'

    The bank was accused of having 'unfair terms' in its credit card contracts and engaging in 'unconscionable conduct'.

  • Retirement Savings: How Much Money You Need Every Year Past Age 65

    The math involved in financially planning for your future retirement can be overwhelming, especially when considering how long you could need those funds to last. Be Aware: Avoid This Retirement...

  • Car factory job losses undeniably a blow - as Vauxhall's parent company crystal clear on reason behind move

    The closure of Vauxhall's Luton van plant is a car crash for the 1,100 workers who could lose their jobs and threatens to trigger a pile-up for a government facing acute pressure from manufacturers over its plans to transition to an electric-only future.

  • Australian Dictionary Chooses 'Enshittification' As The Word Of The Year

    "We’re all living through the enshittocene" said tech critic Cory Doctorow, "in which the services that matter to us, that we rely on, are turning into giant piles of shit."

  • China's top fitness app said to lay off 15% of staff as users drop out

    China's largest online fitness platform Keep is said to be slashing over 100 jobs, the latest sign of tepid consumer sentiment in the world's second-largest economy, as people cut down on non-essential spending. The lay-offs, which began last week, are set to affect up to 15 per cent of the company's workforce, according to a report on Monday from Jiemian, a Shanghai-based media outlet backed by the municipal government. Keep had 920 full-time staff as of June, according to its latest financial

  • Trump's sharp tariff hikes could speed up China's shift to new markets and offshore factories

    Visitors who bought fridge magnets at Times Square or other tourist hotspots around New York in recent years most likely were purchasing the work of Du Jing or one of her fellow exporters in a small Chinese city that supplies the U.S. and the world with tons of small commodities. Du and her husband run Yiwu Xianchuang Handicraft Manufacturing in the eastern city of Yiwu, home to the world’s largest wholesale market. Products from here -– ranging from plushies to glass vases and portable toolboxes -– are sold in stores and on online platforms around the world, including to U.S. consumers on Amazon.

  • Aussie boss reveals major interview mistake job seekers are making: ‘Desperate’

    Melbourne boss Kim Brindell is urging job seekers to ask questions during interviews and said this could make you a "front runner" for the job.

  • Global assemblers may lose US$20 billion a year in China as EVs outsell oil guzzlers: UBS

    Foreign carmakers are at risk of losing up to US$20 billion in profit annually in China, amid intensified competition with domestic producers and a rapid market shift toward electric cars and smarter vehicles, UBS Investment Bank says. Paul Gong, the head of China automotive research at UBS, said diminished demand for foreign brands will lead to an overcapacity of 10 million vehicles. "We think foreign automakers need to re-evaluate and adjust their strategies [in China]," he said at a seminar i

  • Ford calls for incentives to buy electric cars as backlash grows

    The government faces pressure from the industry to make changes to electric vehicle sales quotas.

  • Disney agrees to $43 million settlement in gender pay lawsuit

    The Walt Disney Co. agreed to a $43.25 million settlement in a gender pay discrimination class action lawsuit, according to a court filing Monday. The agreement settles allegations initially made in a 2019 lawsuit filed by Disney employee LaRonda Rasmussen, who claimed she was getting paid less than her male counterparts in the same role.…

  • Avolta wins contract at JFK Airport, among its largest in N.America in 2024

    Avolta has been benefiting from a post-pandemic rebound in global travel. However, Barclays analysts on Tuesday questioned Avolta's competitive position in North America and raised concerns about fading benefits of the post-pandemic recovery. "This is the first in a series of wins the team has had at this airport," Avolta told Reuters in an email.

  • Japan competition authorities raid Amazon Japan, source says

    TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan's Fair Trade Commission on Tuesday conducted an on-site inspection of Amazon Japan on suspicion of violating anti-monopoly laws, a government source said. The unit of Amazon.com Inc is suspected of inappropriately urging sellers to lower their prices on its e-commerce site in exchange for giving their products advantageous placement on the site, the source said. "There is a suspicion that Amazon Japan is forcing sellers to cut prices in an irrational way," said the source, who declined to be named as an official announcement has yet to be issued.

  • Thailand, the ‘Detroit of Southeast Asia’, is at the forefront of China’s battle for the global auto market

    China has invested at least $1.4 billion in the nearby country’s auto plants.

  • Soho's famous Groucho Club closes as it faces licence review

    Soho’s famed Groucho Club has been served with notice of a licence review after allegations that the venue has been associated with “serious crime”. As a result, the club has now temporarily closed.

  • 3 Stocks Estimated To Be Discounted By Up To -32.8%

    As global markets navigate through a period of mixed economic signals, with U.S. indexes approaching record highs and European business activity contracting, investors are keenly observing potential opportunities amidst the volatility. In this environment, identifying undervalued stocks can be a strategic move for those looking to capitalize on discrepancies between current stock prices and their intrinsic values.

  • Electric vehicle deal with China is not close, top EU trade official says

    The European Union and China are not close to finalising a deal that would end their long-running electric vehicle dispute, according to a senior EU official, who called reports suggesting otherwise "confusing". "I think there have been some quite confusing reports about the imminent deal on battery electric vehicles," said Sabine Weyand, the EU's director general for trade, said in Brussels on Tuesday. "We have had 50 hours of discussions with our Chinese counterparts. They were constructive, b

  • Rivian gains on reported conditional settlement with Tesla

    Rivian (RIVN) stock surges after reports from Bloomberg said Tesla (TSLA) has reached a "conditional" settlement with its electric vehicle (EV) competitor. Tesla accused Rivian of poaching employees to access proprietary information about its EV tech. Market Domination Hosts Julie Hyman and Josh Lipton break down the headline. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Market Domination here. This post was written by Naomi Buchanan.