Paramount Pictures is facing two lawsuits from former employees who allege the company ignored sexual assault, harassment, and a hostile work environment created by a senior executive.
Both suits, filed in July in California, center on Patrick Smith, former senior vice president of worldwide print production. He resigned earlier this year following an internal investigation.
Allegations of Assault and Harassment
One woman, identified as Jane Doe, claims Smith sexually assaulted her multiple times between 2016 and 2018, including groping her in her office and assaulting her in his car. She alleges that assaults continued until she left Paramount in 2022.
The other Jane Doe accuses Smith of persistent harassment from 2017 to 2019, including sexual comments and pressuring her to attend a conference where he implied they would have sex. She claims Smith retaliated against her professional work after she rejected him.
Culture of Silence and Retaliation
The lawsuits argue Paramount fostered a “code of silence,” enabling misconduct and punishing those who spoke up. One Jane Doe said Smith bragged that HR offered to “take care of it” when a complaint arose, suggesting retaliation against accusers.
The complaints also allege Smith made derogatory remarks about female colleagues, including ageist and sexist comments.
Paramount’s Silence
Paramount has not responded to multiple requests for comment. The lawsuits accuse the studio of ignoring complaints despite Smith’s alleged history of misconduct at other companies.
For more on the lawsuit, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.