Rachael Ray Anorexia Lawsuit: Employee Sues CBS For $1 Million

NEW YORK — A former accountant for Rachael Ray's TV cooking show has filed a $1 million lawsuit saying he was forced out of his job because he has an eating disorder.

Aaron Ferguson says in papers filed in Manhattan's state Supreme Court that he has suffered from anorexia for about six years. He says his supervisor repeatedly exhibited "hostile behavior" and made "vile," discriminatory and hurtful comments.

The comments included, "Anorexics are sick in the head," and, "Anorexics should not be able to work," his court papers say.

Ferguson's lawyer, William H. Kaiser, said Thursday, "The things that were said in front of my client were hurtful, and once they knew he had a problem with it they should have stopped."

Ferguson says he repeatedly complained about his supervisor's use, in his presence, of discriminatory language regarding anorexics but their superiors did nothing that improved his situation.

Ferguson said he began working in July 2007 for CBS Television Distributions Inc., a CBS Corp. unit and the producer and owner of the "Rachael Ray" show. After he complained about his treatment, he says, he was forced out in October 2007.

Kaiser said the firing was retaliation: "He was punished for complaining."

The lawsuit, filed late Wednesday, names CBS Corp., CBSTD Inc. and three employees of the show as defendants. Ray is not named as a defendant.

A CBS spokesman referred calls to show spokeswoman Lauren Nowell, who said she could not comment on pending litigation.

Comments

[Wanjiru]

.

...if I had a food show and one of my employees had anorexia..­.I would fire them!...

...it's like running a day-care and hiring someone who hates children..­.

...c'mon people...g­et over yourselves­...

....discri­mination my a**...

.

[hannabanana]

I'm no fan of this little sugar sweet cooker but, hey, the article states Ray is not named in the suit, so what's with the picture of her and headline implying otherwise. And since when is it "discriminatory" to call a self starver a self starver?

[Hagrid]

That show is a den of hate and intolerance.
Her racism and her minions' attitude towards annorexics.

[hannabanana]

Excuse me, but how the hell would you know?

[fishsandwichesr2good]

Things were said that were "hurtful"? Am I the only one who imagines a skinny bald accountant wearing a flowered shirt sniffling over his calculator while a close "friend" massages his bony shoulders?

[fishsandwichesr2good]

He was punished for complaining? What, was there too much food on the table? LOL - there's a certain irony when a chef has to deal with an anorexic employee. In tribute to George Carlin, his take on the subject of anorexia was "Rich b*tch don't wanna eat?! F*ck her." Given that it's a "guy" in this case, it's not quite as relevant, but his point is the same. What kind of screwed up country produces this kind of sickness at these kind of rates?

[hannabanana]

Why the good ol' USA of course! We're number 1, we're number 1, we're number 1, we're number 1, we're number 1, we're number 1,we're number 1,we're number 1!

[Mort]

If anorexia is a psychological disorder then the comment about being sick in the head, while insensitive, is true! So I think this guy is being just a little too thin skinned.

[hannabanana]

Thin skinned, I get it, heh, heh.

[Cherlesq]

If Rachael ray is not named in the suit, why name her in thius story at all? Come on, we can do better.

[mrmemory]

Eatings disorders are the most lethal of psychological problems, and they need to be taken seriously by our society. If a law suit helps to bring attention to this important issue, I am all for it.

[FrictionSoul]

Bottom line: NEVER trust a skinny chef.

[bsc]

I know I am going to be blasted for this, but it is a discussion­...It is a little hard to take seriously anything that can be solved by eating a sandwich. I think this "most lethal of psychological problems" takes a back seat to drugs, domestic violence, alcoholism, etc. Also, this lawsuit is just going to give fodder to plaintiff's lawyers to rake in some more big $$, nothing more. I suppose an education campaign would be a better solution, where we figure out why anorexia occurs and try to solve the problem instead of adding it to the list of taboo topics no one will talk about for fear of being sued.

[evlbstrd]

So which is it? Eat a sandwich or education? You seem confused about a solution.

[Mort]

We need to find a way to erase the way society worships beauty and skinny models & actresses. Then we can be a happier, healthier society of homely fat folks.

[hannabanana]

Study after study has shown that for whatever underlying reason or motivation anorexia occurs from a willful refusal to eat. That's why the only sure cure is forced feeding which starts a recurring happy cycle "relapse after relapse"

[Felicty]

Could they have picked a FATTER picture of this woman to accompany this headline?

[Midnightrain]

I noticed that too - hahaha!

[Obama4Life]

Lol

[NTO08]

The headline is misleading and if I were Rachel Ray, I would have her lawyers calling Huffpo...

[sisterdebmac]

OK, what you're all overlooking is that this is RR's CBS show, her daytime talk show. Yes, they cook on there sometimes, but it's not like this guy tried to go work for the FOOD NETWORK, OK? So stop bashing him for taking an accounting job on a show where they just happen to have cooking segemnts.

And no, you absolutely cannot blame RR for the actions of some really crass, idiotic administrative supervisor.

[c3m]

Was he doing his job or over taken with his problem?

[MemphisBuffalo]

A story like this makes me want to puke! Somebody had to say it.

[PatA]

Most of the comments on this thread are disgusting, rude and inappropri­ate.......­.the man has a disease...­....you may be obese....w­ould you not be ****ed if you were being disrespected and then fired?

Get over yourselves!

[MemphisBuffalo]

Your right, it makes me want to vomit! Oh no!!!

[Myshkin57]

Anorexia and bulimia are different.

[hannabanana]

No, he doesn't have a disease. His refusal to eat for whatever reason is willful. Read up before you swallow this psychiatric bullshit concept whole. Chew your food!

[MemphisBuffalo]

If he win will they have to eat their words?