Former PIX11 News anchor Ojinika Obiekwe has filed a racial and gender discrimination lawsuit against the station.
She alleging in the lawsuit that she was underpaid, overworked, and wrongfully terminated in retaliation for raising concerns about workplace inequality.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, claims that white male counterparts at Nexstar-owned sister stations received higher pay, better resources, and more support despite having fewer responsibilities.
Allegations of Unequal Treatment and Hostile Work Environment
Obiekwe, a Nigerian-born journalist, joined PIX11 as an intern in 2001 and rose through the ranks over 16 years, holding various roles, including assignment editor, producer, and reporter before being promoted to entertainment anchor in 2017.
However, her complaint alleges that after her promotion, she was forced to handle multiple roles, including segment producer and copy editor duties, without additional compensation or assistance.
The lawsuit further claims that Obiekwe’s white male counterparts at KTLA in Los Angeles and WGN-TV in Chicago—both stations under Nexstar Media Group—were provided with more resources and higher salaries while performing fewer job functions.
Obiekwe reportedly compared her working conditions to those on a “plantation” and, in frustration, told her colleagues:
“All that’s left for me to do at this point is pick cotton.”
The complaint also references another statement in which she expressed her frustration with racial bias at the station:
“Just call me Django, but even Django was unchained.”
Obiekwe alleges that after voicing concerns, she was warned by her news director to “desist because she was making people uncomfortable.”
Claims of Retaliation and Wrongful Termination
In 2023, Obiekwe was terminated from PIX11 for alleged “insubordination” and “failure to perform job duties.”
However, the lawsuit contends that SAG-AFTRA, the union representing her, challenged the termination and found that the station failed to provide supporting evidence for the claims against her.
The complaint further alleges that PIX11 later rescinded its initial justification for her termination, stating instead that the station simply chose not to renew her contract “for no reason.”
Legal Representation and Potential Implications
Obiekwe is represented by attorneys Andrew G. Celli and Eric Adams of Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP (ECBAWM). In a statement, Adams asserted that her firing was an act of retaliation:
“Ms. Obiekwe was terminated, and her contract was not renewed, because she spoke up about discrimination she was experiencing. Beyond being morally unjust, PIX11 and Nexstar must be held accountable for their violations of the law.”
Legal and Industry Impact
The lawsuit highlights broader concerns about racial and gender discrimination in the media industry, particularly the disparate treatment of Black women journalists.
If successful, Obiekwe’s claims could set a legal precedent for workplace discrimination cases involving media corporations and their subsidiary stations.
PIX11 has not commented on the lawsuit.
