Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune just got hit with a big discrimination lawsuit (but it sounds like it was before Ryan Seacrest)

Despite the fact that two of the best game shows of all time, Danger! and Wheel of Fortune are not without controversy. That was just a few years ago Mike Richards was fired as an executive producer on the series after past problematic behavior resurfaced when he called himself a new Danger! the host follows The death of Alex Trebek. Now Sony Productions game shows are facing major complaints from two former employees who say they were discriminated against and fired for reporting it.

Shelley Ballance Ellis and Monique Diaz were fired from Sony Pictures Entertainment in April after working on Wheel of Fortune and Danger! for 26 and 23 years, respectively, USA TODAY reports While the issues reported to the California Department of Civil Rights have occurred before Ryan Seacrest has done his Wheel of Fortune debuthe began filming a promo with Vanna White at least until February of this year, so the new host may actually have crossed paths with Ballance Ellis and Diaz.

Shelly Ballance Ellis, head of series licensing and licensing, and reportedly the highest-ranking executive in black production, said in court documents:

The truth is that I and others were targeted by Sony because we spoke out against discrimination.

A former employee described 2020 in detail Wheel of Fortune a production meeting as an example where colleagues allegedly joked that a black woman’s hairstyle reminded them of a movie The elephant manto which Shelley Ballance Ellis allegedly asked them which part of the “joke” was funny.

She also said she raised concerns about bias Danger! tips and advocated for “more inclusive, nuanced tips about people from different backgrounds.” A former executive said she was not considered for a promotion despite taking on additional work after three other producers left. She raised her concerns in 2023 in a complaint that said:

I explained that I believed I faced a glass ceiling at Sony as a black woman, countering my colleagues’ assertions that having white women in management meant that there was no glass ceiling for women of color or black women like me.

Shelley Ballance Ellis reported other actions she experienced that affected her and other employees, including Wheel of Fortune2017 Southern Charm Week at which Pat Sajak and Vanna White were shown in front of the plantation and two slave re-enactors in antebellum clothing. The show reportedly apologized at the time.

Meanwhile, Monique Diaz detailed other behaviors she allegedly witnessed, including how contestants of color were treated compared to their white counterparts. Comedian Leslie Jones, for example, was ridiculed by a production manager for asking to bring in her hairdresser for Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.

Employee concerns about racial bias were reportedly ignored, such as when Diaz, who is Hispanic, learned she was making about $50,000 less a year than a white new employee doing the same job. No action was taken after she filed a complaint with human resources, so Shelley Ballance Ellis, who was Diaz’s supervisor, contacted Sony’s chief diversity officer. Diaz’s salary was adjusted, but she still reportedly made $15,000 less than her new co-star.

Sony responded to the complaints by telling USA TODAY that team management Wheel of Fortune and Danger! “dedicated to fostering a culture of inclusiveness and respect.” The statement continued:

Sony Pictures Entertainment takes all allegations of discrimination very seriously. Earlier this year there was a major reorganization of our game show team, which resulted in the elimination of several roles to address the redundancies and new business needs of a company that has been in business for over 40 years. These liquidations were decisions to improve business efficiency, not revenge.

We’ll have to wait and see if anything comes of these complaints of discrimination, including if and how the game shows relative to new hosts — Ken Jennings and Ryan Seacrest — will suffer. In the meantime, check your local listings to find out when the games will be syndicated in your area.