Disney is facing a new lawsuit from a development executive, Asta Jonasson, who alleges she was underpaid because she is an Asian American woman. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims that Jonasson was discriminated against by director John Ridley, whose production house has an overall deal with Disney through ABC Studios. Jonasson asserts that she was fired in retaliation for issuing a complaint about unequal pay based on her gender and race.
This lawsuit comes as Disney is already dealing with legal issues over pay discrimination against women, with a class action filed in 2019. The case recently cleared a major hurdle when a judge certified a class of employees across various units within Disney. A trial is expected to be scheduled next year in what is believed to be one of the largest classes ever suing under an equal pay act claim.
Jonasson’s complaint details her time working under Ridley at his production company, where she advocated for equal pay but was allegedly overlooked in favor of a white male for a promotion. Despite continuing to perform duties of a higher role, Jonasson claims she was not compensated accordingly.
Allegations of discrimination and retaliation from Ridley are outlined in the lawsuit, including instances where Jonasson was denied opportunities given to male colleagues. Despite raising concerns multiple times, Jonasson claims that supervisors at ABC and Disney failed to intervene, leading to her termination in 2022.
Jonasson is seeking justice for herself and others who have faced similar discrimination in Hollywood. Her lawyer, Claire-Lise Kutlay, emphasized the historical underpayment of women and minorities in the industry compared to white men. Disney, ABC, and Ridley have yet to respond to the allegations.