Mass Appeal, the multimedia company co-founded by rapper Nas, has been sued for racial discrimination by a former white female executive.
The lawsuit was filed by Melissa Cooper, a veteran TV producer who was head of development at Mass Appeal. She alleges the company's leadership, including CEO Peter Bittenbender, discriminated against her by removing her from projects, allowing a hostile work environment, and firing her.
The suit claims Cooper faced "venomous and racist comments" about white people from Jenya Meggs, Mass Appeal's head of partnerships and content. It points to texts allegedly showing Meggs criticizing Cooper's involvement in a documentary about Freaknik, an iconic Black cultural festival.
According to the complaint, tensions escalated as Meggs allegedly pushed for an unqualified friend to be hired in HR, then refused to work with Cooper. It states Cooper was removed from various projects as a result, including a concert event.
The lawsuit says Bittenbender and Mass Appeal conducted no investigation into Cooper's discrimination claims before firing her in June 2023. It argues Meggs faced no repercussions and remains employed there.
Mass Appeal has been contacted for comment on the lawsuit. Nas is not individually named as a defendant.
The allegations remain unproven in court. All parties are presumed innocent unless found liable. However, if substantiated, the claims suggest a troubling culture at Mass Appeal.
The lawsuit will now have to go through the court system. But it raises serious questions about diversity, equity and management at the high-profile company.