A writer has filed a lawsuit against CBS Television Studios, alleging that the show’s leaders created a difficult and uncomfortable work environment. CBS has stated they are conducting a full investigation into the claims.
News first emerged that writer John Lowe is suing, alleging in a complaint filed June 17th in California court that the showrunners and executive producers of Matlock fostered a hostile work environment.
In the lawsuit, Lowe claims the execs allowed a racist environment, which “permeated by sexually explicit and discriminatory conduct.” Lowe was reportedly fired after allegedly reporting an incident in which his supervisor referred to Juneteenth as “Coonteenth.”
Lena Waithe described the experience of being a Black writer in TV writers’ rooms to The Hollywood Reporter, saying it often feels like you’re seen as either an intimidating rival or someone who needs to be controlled.
Lowe is suing CBS Television Studios, as well as the people who ran the ‘Matlock’ reboot – showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman and executive producers Nicki Renna and Jeffrey Lieber. The lawsuit alleges a hostile work environment and that the studio failed to stop harassment, and Lowe is seeking unspecified financial compensation.
CBS Confirmed an Investigation Took Place
The spokesperson clarified that they were not made aware of the filing of the lawsuit today.
Lowe’s claims of a hostile work environment weren’t made until after he left the company. The investigation showed that proper steps were taken – including a comprehensive review involving Lowe and several other witnesses – but they didn’t find any evidence to support his accusations.
The statement highlights, “We have since learned that he forged a document with the signature of a company executive on it.” It also claims another complaint was of “producers pressuring him into adopting a dog.”
During the legal case, Lowe also detailed an incident involving a dog. He alleged that Jennie Snyder Urman, the showrunner of Matlock, brought her unwanted dog to work and pressured him into taking it. Lowe contends this was racially motivated harassment and an abuse of power, with Urman allegedly implying his job security depended on complying – stating, “As long as you have this dog, you’ll always have a place here.”
This lawsuit follows the firing of , who was let go after accusations of sexual assault during filming. Del Rio has also sued CBS Studios, claiming they didn’t properly review evidence that could have disproven the allegations before making the decision to terminate his employment.
Matlock Is a Hit for CBS
This new series is a fresh take on the popular 1980s show starring Andy Griffith. The original aired on NBC for six seasons and then moved to ABC. This version, now on CBS, features a twist: the main character is now played by Kathy Bates. It premiered in October 2024 and was quickly renewed for a second season. The first season averaged 16 million viewers across different platforms over 35 days.
The series quickly gained popularity, and the network ordered another season even before the first one finished airing. It’s scheduled to return mid-season in 2026-2027, though an exact release date hasn’t been announced yet.
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2026-06-17 21:39