Ex-Editor Calls People Magazine Racist

MANHATTAN (CN) - A former editor claims in court that People Magazine is "a discriminatory organization run entirely by white people who intentionally focus the magazine on stories involving white people and white celebrities."

Tatsha Robertson sued People Magazine and its corporate parent Time, on Wednesday in Federal Court.

Robertson claims she worked as a senior editor for People for five years, and for its parent, Time, for eight years.

She claims she is the only black senior editor that People ever had, and was one of only "approximately five" African-American employees on People's 110-person print staff.

Robertson says in the lawsuit: "Every day, millions of readers pick up a People Magazine, open its glossy cover filled with celebrity photographs, and flip through its pages containing sensational human interest stories. Little do these readers know, behind the cover and pages of People Magazine, is a discriminatory organization run entirely by white people who intentionally focus the magazine on stories involving white people and white celebrities."

Robertson says she was fired in May this year "in connection with a purported reduction in force ... despite her unparalleled and award-winning performance."

She seeks back pay, front pay and punitive damages for racial discrimination.

She is represented by David Gottlied with Wigdor LLP.

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