Workplace Harassment Suit
Former 'Matlock' Writer Sues CBS, Producers Over Alleged Racial and Sexual Harassment
Key Points
Lowe alleges the writers-room dog incident included a specific reason for bringing the animal: Urman purportedly said her children “didn’t like the aesthetic” because of the dog’s “black color,” and later told Lowe, “As long as you have this dog, you’ll always have a place here,” while pressuring him to keep the dog for nearly a year.
Beyond the “coonteenth” remark and late-night comments, Lowe alleges multiple specific, targeted comments about his body and sexuality—e.g., he was told he was “well-endowed down there” because of his race and shoe size, asked “how he handled a man’s genitals,” and accused of having remarks made about how tight his clothes were.
Lowe’s lawsuit alleges details about the termination itself: after the show went on hiatus, he says Snyder “verbally fired him just 13 days later,” and he claims there was “no written notice or justification” for his dismissal.
Lowe also alleges the workplace included physical and sexualized misconduct among senior staff—claiming Lieber and Renna would “grab, wrestle, and touch each other while not doing any writing or creative work for the show”—even though Lowe says they’d recently had anti-harassment training.
CBS’s response, as reported, included procedural specifics: CBS said it conducted a “thorough workplace investigation that involved him and multiple witnesses,” and a spokesperson said Lowe’s complaints were made after his employment ended (and that CBS was “unable to find support for his allegations”).
A Black writer on CBS's legal drama Matlock has sued the network and its top producers, alleging a writers' room filled with racial slurs, graphic sexual comments, and coercive behavior. John Lowe, who worked as an Executive Story Editor, filed the California lawsuit on June 17, 2026, targeting CBS Television Studios, showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman, and executive producers Nicki Renna and Jeffrey Lieber, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Lowe says he was verbally fired just 13 days after reporting a racial slur to superiors. CBS says its investigation found no support for his claims and that it plans to "vigorously defend" the lawsuit, according to AV Club.
Showrunner's Slur and the Dog Kept for a Year
Lowe says the most visible incident happened in June 2025. He asked about observing Juneteenth in the office. Showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman responded by calling the holiday "Coonteenth," according to TMZ. Lowe reported the remark to superiors in early July 2025. Thirteen days later, he says Urman verbally fired him with no written notice or justification.
Months earlier, Lowe alleges Urman brought her black dog into the writers' room. She reportedly said her children "didn't like the aesthetic" because of the dog's color. Urman then told Lowe, "As long as you have this dog, you'll always have a place here," and pressured him to care for the animal for nearly a year, according to TMZ. Lowe's public statement captured the dynamic bluntly: "You're either treated like a threat or a pet," he told The Hollywood Reporter.
Graphic Sexual Comments Targeted Lowe by Race
The lawsuit also describes repeated sexualized harassment. Lowe says producers told him he was "well-endowed down there" because of his race and shoe size. He says he was asked "how he handled a man's genitals" and faced comments about how tight his clothes were, according to TMZ. These were not offhand remarks, the lawsuit argues — they followed a pattern of targeting him specifically.
Executive producer Nicki Renna allegedly called Lowe late at night while describing herself in her underwear and detailing her sex life, according to Us Weekly. The suit also claims Renna made demeaning comments about recurring Black cast member Eme Ikwuakor, including remarks about his intelligence and anatomy. Lieber and Renna allegedly wrestled and touched each other during work hours — all of this, Lowe says, came after mandatory anti-harassment training.
CBS Says Investigation Found No Evidence to Support Claims
CBS Television Studios pushed back firmly. A spokesperson said the network conducted a "thorough workplace investigation that involved him and multiple witnesses" and was "unable to find support for his allegations," according to CBR. The studio added that it is "committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for everyone."
CBS also suggested Lowe only raised complaints after his employment had already ended — a key part of its defense strategy. The network did not address the specific slur or dog allegations publicly. CBS said it will "vigorously defend" the case, according to AV Club.
Retaliation Claim Hinges on a 13-Day Window
The legal core of the case is retaliation. Lowe reported the "Coonteenth" slur in early July 2025. Urman verbally fired him 13 days later, he says. Under California law, plaintiffs only need to show their protected activity — like reporting discrimination — was a "contributing factor" in their firing. That lower bar makes the timing central to the case, according to legal analysts cited by The Hollywood Reporter.
The lawsuit comes as Matlock faces other turbulence. Actor David Del Rio was fired in October 2025 after a separate sexual assault investigation. Season 3 has been pushed to a midseason 2027 premiere, a delay showrunner Urman attributed to a "big reset" for the show, according to The Independent. Legal costs and ongoing investigations may be contributing factors to the production shake-up.
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