Oprah Hit With Lawsuit: OWN Accused Of Sexual Discrimination

Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network has been hit with a lawsuit by a former employee.

Carolyn Hommel, who was hired as the senior director of scheduling and acquisitions at the network in 2010, filed a lawsuit today claiming that she was the victim of sexual discrimination.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Hommel claims that she was replaced when she took medical leave during her pregnancy. Hommel says that her duties were slowly taken away from her and given to a temporary employee. When she returned to the office, Hommel was no longer allowed to attend meetings.

Gossip Cop reports that Hommel was fired about a month after giving birth to her daughter.

Hommel reapplied for a job at the company but the lawsuit claims that her boss, Michael Garner, gave a false performance review to prevent her from getting another job at the OWN Network. The lawsuit claims that Garner’s review “made Hommel’s job duties and responsibilities appear less ‘senior’ and therefore not a candidate for the new vice president position.”

Garner is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

It’s been a rough week for Oprah. In addition to getting hit with a lawsuit by a former employee, Oprah also injured herself while opening birthday presents earlier this week.