Ex-host of The Doctors claims he suffered racism and retaliation on CBS Show – Deadline

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Former The Doctors host Dr Ian Smith takes a diagnostic approach to endemic issues of “racial discrimination and retaliation” with the syndicated series from ViacomCBS and production company Dr Phil McGraw. It comes after CBS boss George Cheeks empathically told Dr Smith who was fired earlier this year that the situation should never have happened. and would be “investigated as soon as possible”.

“To this day, the CBS investigation remains incomplete,” says a complaint for “unlawful discriminatory practices” filed in recent days with the New York State Division of Human Rights and the United States Commission for equal opportunities in employment (read here)

“The delay in the investigation is striking given the speed with which CBS has investigated recent allegations that Sharon Osborne engaged in racial discrimination on another CBS daytime talk show called The Talk,” added the dossier of the disorderly exit of the former rock manager in March. Dr Smith notes that he has not heard from CBS on the matter and the nature of his dismissal since February of this year – although it still features prominently on the Doctors’ website.

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Canned CBS Media Ventures distributed The Doctors in late January after citing “racist and discriminatory statements about it” by a producer on Zoom, former Today contributor Smith alleges the show’s problems started almost since the beginning. Suddenly introduced as the solo host of the 13th season of the Dr. Phil spin-off in July of last year, as protests against racial injustice and police brutality gripped America, Dr. Smith says he learned the hard way how far inclusion has gone as a principle guide to the show.

“We have you as our host,” the complaint claims when Dr. Smith told The Doctors EP Patty Ciano about the lack of diversity among the show’s producers. “This is what counts”, the EP would have added. Ciano, along with Stage 29 Productions and its co-founder Jack McGraw (son of Dr Phil), and ViacomCBS are all named “helpers and accomplices” in the complaints.

ViacomCBS did not comment on this when contacted by Deadline.

Dr Smith’s conformer also notes that former Doctors co-host Dr Racheal Ross warned of “a lack of diversity and racism” on the show. Then rookie Smith and three-season vet Ross were colleagues in the 2013 Medics Race. Neither returned the following year, and Smith only returned as the sole host from last year.

Presenting a detailed behind-the-scenes run of the daytime talk show and its inclination towards a white POV, despite Smith’s efforts to attract black guests and creatives, and production risk-taking during the Covid-19 pandemic, the 10-page Empire State filing also describes a seemingly deeply flawed HR process at the Shari Redstone-dominated media giant.

In at least two cases, Chicago-based Dr Smith claims he hit a wall while trying to use the company’s popular online portal. A complaint filed anonymously in late 2020 about the sexual harassment Smith felt from Ciano was practically DOA.

Announced by the CEO and Chairman of CBS Entertainment Group, the second complaint resulted in “several … calls and emails” with Linda Davidoff, Senior Vice President and Deputy Director of Compliance at ViacomCBS, but no apparent action – well let the matter be a “high priority” order. of Cheeks.

“If my client didn’t complain about racism, he would still be the host of The Doctors,” Dr. Smith’s attorney Rick Ostrove said today. “His repeated complaints are a show of courage,” added the lawyer for Leeds Brown Law, PC. “He reached out to make the industry more inclusive and make the world a better place. We are exceptionally confident that we will win in this case and look forward to the trial. “

The Doctors website currently still has Dr. Smith as co-host of the Emmy-winning day along with Dr. Andrew Ordon, a plastic surgeon from California.

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