Employee claims boss made her watch porn, bragged about abusing women
A black Sony employee is suing the international entertainment company because she said her white boss called her a derogatory name for an African-American and forced her to watch pornographic videos involving horses.
Shelly Dukes, a longtime Sony employee, filed a lawsuit in Santa Monica Superior Court charging her boss, Danny Williams, of sexual harassment and racial harassment and discrimination.
Last week lawyers for Sony told Judge Richard Neidorff they would prefer to settle the matter privately than go through a public hearing and trial. The case was sent into private mediation, and a hearing date has not yet been set by the court.
Sony policies prohibited comment on pending litigation, said Sony lawyer Aymara E. Zielina. Lawyers for Dukes did not return messages seeking comment.
According to Dukes’ complaint, filed last September, Williams bragged about beating up women -— especially black women. He would routinely complain about another employee, called “Hannah” in the lawsuit, because she dated a black man.
In general, Dukes alleged that her boss referred to women with harsh, derogatory terms.
Also, Williams forced Dukes to watch pornographic material on his computer screen, including women having oral and vaginal sex with horses, according to the lawsuit.
Dukes said Williams would make public comments about the size, shape and appearance of her nipples and vagina. Williams also allegedly said Dukes’ butt looked like “two cats in a bag.”
And according to Dukes’ lawsuit, Williams constantly showed his “ripped underwear” to Dukes and several other employees.
After months of abuse, Dukes said she finally complained to Sony executives. But at a meeting called to defuse the situation, Dukes said none of her problems were addressed.
After Dukes filed her complaint, she said Williams began threatening her verbally at work. The situation escalated when her boss brought a weapon to work and threatened her with it, the lawsuit said.
Lawyers for Dukes would not elaborate on their lawsuit or specify the exact amount they are seeking in damages.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 2, 2002. Read the original PDF.