by Cedric ‘BIG CED’ Thornton
Stanley Pillman III also alleges that Funkmaster Flex and Hot 97’s SVP of sales “were involved in potential kick-backs and theft of company funds.”
An accusation of discrimination has been levied against the hip-hop radio station Hot 97, as a white former executive with the station says he was terminated for being “too white for the job.”
According to The Daily Beast, former VP of digital operations at Hot 97, Stanley Pillman III, has filed a lawsuit at the New York State Supreme Court on Monday, March 25, stating that MediaCo Holding, the parent company of Hot 97 is accused of retaliation and discrimination in violation of the state’s human rights and labor laws. He also has claimed that DJ Funkmaster Flex has been accepting kickbacks from advertisers and after reporting that to the station, he was fired as retaliation.
“Pillman’s employment was terminated in retaliation for his protected complaints or on the basis of his race,” the suit states. He wants his position back, along with back pay, compensatory damages for emotional harm, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees.
Pillman’s attorney, Robert Valli, told the media outlet, “We investigated, and we determined, in our opinion, that there was retaliation for protected activity. Here, it’s discrimination and speaking out about what we claim to be protected activities.”
After being let go, he said a “Hispanic male” took over his job and was later replaced by a “Black Male.”
He also alleges that Tobin’s contract was not renewed, and he was “replaced by a Black male.”
Source: Black Enterprise
