Fishburne Hit with Sex Discrimination Complaint

January 19, 2006 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - The ex-personal assistant to Laurence Fishburne has charged the actor with sexual discrimination for using her pregnancy as excuse to fire her.

Kristel Crews claims she was hired by “The Matrix” star in November 1999 to take charge of all of the actor’s “personal and business needs.” Crews said she took maternity leave to have the baby, but was told she would be fired effective the day she was scheduled to return to work, according to a CBS news release.

According to the suit, Crews realized she was pregnant in April 2004 and told Fishburne the following month. He “initially expressed happiness and agreed to be the baby’s godfather,” the suit alleged.

However, when Crews told Fishburne’s longtime manager that she couldn’t travel to New Orleans in November 2004, she claims Fishburne became much more antagonistic. According to the suit, Fishburne allegedly “grilled plaintiff about her decision to get pregnant” and asked personal questions about how the pregnancy occurred.

Crews claims the actor harassed her which led her to give birth more than a month before her December 31, 2004, due date.

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