An autistic woman is suing Universal City Studios Productions LLC and NBCUniversal Media LLC, alleging she was derided by both management at Voodoo Doughnuts and by customers who made fun of her because of her condition.
Natalie Owen’s Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit alleges wrongful termination, discrimination, failure to prevent discrimination and retaliation as well as failure to accommodate and engage in the interactive process. She seeks unspecified compensatory and an injunction preventing such alleged discriminatory conduct in the future.
A Universal Studios representative did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the suit brought Wednesday.
Owen was given an internship at Voodoo Doughnuts on the CityWalk in February 2017 and her duties included cashier work. Throughout 2018, a supervisor wrongfully accused Owen of sticking her chest out at male customers and he also derisively called her “sparkle cake,” according to the suit, which further states that another male boss dubbed her “little girl” and addressed her as “my dear.”
Yet another manager called Owen “weird” and “off-putting,” according to the complaint.
During the first year of the pandemic in 2020, some customers yelled discriminatory remarks at her when she told them to wear masks, the suit states. Some patrons also laughed at and mocked her when she was “stimming,” a motion involving the flapping of arms and rocking that is common to those with autism, the suit states.
In March 2021, some customers told Owen, “You’re everything that’s wrong with America” and “You don’t even know what gender you are,” according to the suit, which further states that the plaintiff received no help when she complained to a manager.
Owen was left in tears when a member of a family of patrons referred to her as “that thing,” but when the plaintiff complained to a boss, the supervisor was more sympathetic to the customers, apologized for Owen’s actions and gave them free food, the suit states.
Owen was “effectively terminated” in December because after her internship expired, she was only offered a night cleaning role, which she could not accept because of her job restrictions, according to the suit, which further states that the plaintiff was rejected for several other positions for which she contended she was qualified.
Owen has suffered lost income and emotional distress since her alleged termination, the suit states.