Todd Mastry, the former executive director of the Landers Center, has filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination after refusing demands to stop booking Black artists at the venue.
The lawsuit, filed on January 31, 2025, accuses certain members of the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors and the DeSoto County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) of violating the Civil Rights Act.
According to the complaint, Mastry was dismissed during a special meeting of the CVB’s Board of Directors last month, following repeated pressure from board members to limit performances by Black entertainers. Mastry contends that his termination was an act of retaliation for his refusal to comply with what he claims were racially discriminatory requests.
Mastry is seeking financial damages in the lawsuit, though the specific amount has not been disclosed. His legal team argues that the board’s actions not only violated federal civil rights protections but also constitute wrongful termination and workplace discrimination.
The DeSoto County Board of Supervisors and the CVB have yet to publicly respond to the allegations.
However, legal experts note that if Mastry’s claims are substantiated, the case could have significant implications for employment discrimination laws and the operations of publicly funded venues.
