Former 'Young and the Restless' star Victoria Rowell sues the soap opera for racism

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Former “Young and the Restless” star Victoria Rowell is suing the producers of that show, claiming that they have refused to re-hire her because of racism.

Roswell’s character, Drucilla Winters, was on the show from 1990 to 2007, and the suit alleges that her time on the show was filled with constant humiliation and mistreatment. The suit also claims that she had to pay for a “capable African American hair stylist” and that “white actors and actresses taunted Ms. Rowell and the stylist with impunity, and told Ms. Rowell that her hair ‘smelled.’”

The suit also alleged that at one time fellow actress Michelle Stafford spit on her, called her a “freak” and screamed, “no one here likes you!”

She is now seeking damages, back pay and front pay, claiming that by speaking out about the racism she experienced, she has irreparably damaged her ability to be hired to new shows. “Ms. Rowell has been blacklisted from even being considered for roles on daytime television and on any CBS programming, not because of any acting deficiencies or viewers’ desires, but because of retaliation for her advocacy for African Americans in front of and behind the camera,” the suit alleges.

A CBS spokeswoman responded to the allegations: “We were disappointed to learn that, after leaving the cast of ‘The Young and the Restless’ on her own initiative, Ms. Rowell has attempted to rewrite that history through lawyers’ letters and a lawsuit that has no merit. We harbor no ill will toward Ms. Rowell, but we will vigorously defend this case.”