Porscha Coleman says talk show fired her because of her hair

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Porscha Coleman is suing Media General, Fox Entertainment and others involved with “Hollywood Today Live” for discrimination after she says that because she was unmarried and had no kids and did not have a “look” that appealed to Middle America, she was fired from the talk show.

In her suit, which alleges gender, race and marital status harassment, retaliation and discrimination, Coleman claims the defendants “created a quid pro quo and hostile working environment in which harassment, discrimination and retaliation based on sex/gender, race and marital status were permitted, required, demanded, allowed and tolerated.”

Coleman was eventually replaced by actress Garcelle Beauvais, who is a mother of three.

In particular, Coleman claimed, her hair was the subject of debate as at one point during a meeting, Fox head of programming Tracy Taw told her, “I’m trying to keep this show on past November and I don’t want your hair to be reason why the show doesn’t get picked up for season two.” She also claimed that the hair and makeup artists did not have expertise with “female African-American hair” or “darker skin tones.”

The complaint, filed by Marcus Mancini, goes on to say that she “continues to suffer severe and permanent emotional and mental distress and anguish, humiliation, embarrassment, fright, shock, pain, discomfort and anxiety.”