John Lowe says CBS and “Matlock” leadership created a hostile writers’ room marked by racial and sexual harassment, then moved toward termination after complaints. CBS says it investigated and found no support for the allegations.
When John Lowe says he was told he would be fired without notice, the shock wasn’t just the decision—it was the speed. In his lawsuit, filed Wednesday, June 17, in California, Lowe alleges the termination came just days after a dispute over Juneteenth.
Lowe, a Black former “Matlock” executive story editor, sued CBS and multiple “Matlock” figures including the show’s creator, Jennie Snyder Urman, along with writers Nicki Renna and Jeffrey Lieber. He is asking for compensatory and punitive damages, plus attorneys’ fees and costs.
Lowe’s filing says he was hired in 2023 and worked on the CBS series from October 2023 until July 2025. He alleges he was “subjected to repeated racially and sexually offensive conduct. supervisory abuse and ultimately a retaliatory termination.” In the suit. he portrays a workplace where he was singled out—through sexualized comments. racial slurs. and humiliating treatment—rather than evaluated on creative work.
Lowe says the harassment began early, when Snyder Urman and Lieber allegedly told him his large shoe size meant he was “well-endowed down there.” He alleges Snyder Urman, Lieber and Renna also “questioned his sexuality” and asked about “how he handled a man’s genitals.”
The complaint describes an incident in 2024 that Lowe says became its own kind of humiliation. He alleges Snyder Urman brought a dog into the writers’ room. placed it on his lap. and said her children didn’t want it because they didn’t like its “aesthetic. ” which Lowe says referred to the dog’s “black color.” He claims Snyder Urman “coerced him” into caring for the dog for nearly a year. telling him. “as long as you have this dog. you’ll always have a place here.” Lowe says he came to believe the behavior was racially motivated and designed to single him out for humiliation. “not for any creative or production reason.”.
He also points to alleged comments aimed at a cast member. Lowe says “Matlock” cast member Eme Ikwuakor faced similar treatment, including an allegation that Renna said Ikwuakor “can barely read.”
The timing of the suit sharpens around the June 2025 Juneteenth exchange. Lowe says that in June 2025 he inquired about whether the company would be observing Juneteenth. In his account. Snyder Urman responded with a slur. calling the holiday “coonteenth.” He says “Matlock” wrapped filming that same month and he was placed on “hiatus.”.
Then, Lowe says the end came quickly. On July 2—13 days after the alleged Juneteenth incident—he alleges Snyder Urman verbally informed him he would be terminated without notice.
Lowe’s attorney. Ron Zambrano. a partner and employment litigation chair at West Coast Employment Lawyers. called the allegations “blatant racism and harassment.” In his statement. Zambrano said there is “no excuse” for the conduct. that CBS should be ashamed for allowing it. and that the showrunner and producers “should be held accountable.” He added that Lowe was subjected to “degrading and unlawful conduct. ” and said Lowe “deserved to be treated with dignity and respect.” Zambrano also referenced “outrageous and illegal racial slurs and sexual harassment” that he said had no connection to Lowe’s work on the show.
CBS Studios responded in a statement. saying it is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment and that it takes workplace complaints seriously. The company said a thorough investigation was completed and that it was “unable to find support for his allegations.” It also said it looks forward to defending the lawsuit “vigorously.”.
The lawsuit includes a separate procedural dispute about when the production learned about the claims. The production company was not made aware of the lawsuit until the day it was filed, though Lowe had made complaints about the workplace after he left the position.
The suit also lays out the personal costs, not just the workplace claims. Lowe says he has suffered loss of income, emotional distress, humiliation, and medical expenses for mental health treatment as a result of his employment on the show.
There’s a stark contrast at the center of this case: Lowe’s account of escalating misconduct and retaliation. versus CBS’s assertion that an investigation found no support for his allegations. What remains unresolved is whether the events Lowe describes—ranging from sexualized and racial comments to the alleged slur about Juneteenth and a termination without notice—fit the company’s standard for a workplace complaint that can be dismissed as unsubstantiated.
Matlock CBS John Lowe Jennie Snyder Urman Nicki Renna Jeffrey Lieber Ron Zambrano workplace harassment racial discrimination wrongful termination Juneteenth employment lawsuit