'Matlock' Staffer Sues Creator and Writers for Hostile Work Environment

Key Points:

• John Lowe, an executive story editor on the "Matlock" show, has filed a lawsuit alleging that creator Jennie Urman Snyder and writers Nicki Renna and Jeffrey Lieber fostered a sexually explicit and discriminatory hostile work environment, with much of the conduct directed personally at him.
• Lowe claims he faced repeated racially and sexually offensive behavior, including Snyder using a racial slur to describe Juneteenth, and was fired in 2025 in retaliation for complaining about the offensive comment without written notice or justification.
• The lawsuit also details racist and sexist remarks made by Renna about Black cast member Eme Ikwuakor, sexually inappropriate comments about Lowe’s appearance by Snyder and Lieber, and inappropriate behavior such as late-night calls and physical touching between writers that contributed to the hostile environment.
• Lowe seeks compensatory and punitive damages for loss of income, emotional distress, humiliation, and medical expenses, while CBS Studios states it conducted an investigation finding no support for the allegations and plans to vigorously defend the lawsuit.
• This legal action follows previous controversies on the "Matlock" set, including the October removal of cast member David Del Rio amid sexual assault allegations, which he denies.