Image Credit: Danny Feld/ABCAs first reported by TMZ.com, former Desperate Housewives actress Nicollette Sheridan is suing series creator Marc Cherry on charges of assault and battery, gender violence, wrongful termination, and “intentional infliction of emotional distress.”
In the suit, obtained by EW, Sheridan alleges that Cherry created a “hostile work environment,” regularly “demeaning” writers and staff, and behaving in a “dismissive, demeaning, and unprofessional manner” towards her both on and off set.
She claims that on September 24, 2008, after she questioned something in the script, Cherry took her aside and “forcefully hit her with his hand across her face and head.” Although Sheridan immediately complained to ABC, she claims no action was taken. The legal papers paint Cherry as someone who became hostile to those who “questioned his authority,” and Sheridan claims her complaints led directly to her termination. What’s more, the suit says, Cherry reportedly told third parties that “he hoped Sheridan would be distraught as a result of the termination.”
In a separate incident cited by way of example, Cherry allegedly once responded to Housewives co-star Teri Hatcher’s complaints to the network by saying, “I hope Teri Hatcher gets hit by a car and dies.”
Sheridan is seeking $20 million.
ABC Studios has responded to the suit with the following statement: “While we have yet to see the actual complaint, we investigated similar claims made by Ms. Sheridan last year and found them to be without merit.”
Weird. I’m–probably wrongly–inclined to believe it is true for some reason, maybe because it would be an odd thing to make up, but it is Hollywood. Does Cherry have a reputation for being an abusive douche or is this a first?
I did a quick Google search and didn’t find anything.
Funny how this lawsuit comes out a YEAR after she was fired off the show – I guess that’s what happens when you’re unemployed and no one wants to hire your saggy bum…
Your bum might be saggy. Nicollete doesn’t have the problem.
i think legal suits like this take a while, but i am not a lawyer, but that is what i have heard, that is why most people don’t sue over things like dog bites very much, b/c they realize how long a process it is
Thanks EWsMom and yeah, that is a bit odd that she waited THIS long to file such a thing. You would think she would have gotten the cops involved or something at the time and not wait a year to file for 20 million frickin dollars. Still don’t know who to believe.
Don’t worry, you will have a saggy bum one day. Idiotic comment.
Well the parties were probably negotiating a settlement before she filed suit but settlement negotiations fell apart. It also takes time to gather the back up material needed before filing and actually draft the complaint itself. I’m not suprised that a year later it was filed.
This kind of reminds me of the sexual assault charge towards the actor playing Desmond Hume on Lost. With that case, Sheridan’s lawsuit, and the circus that’s the Grey’s Anatomy set, what the devil’s going on in ABC’s sound sets for the past few years?
Or you have a clause that lasts a yearduuuuuchbag
its very possible that she didnt say/do anything at the time because she wanted to keep her job – from what i know, hollywood/broadcast tv is not the kind of business where u go complain about ur boss and then expect to keep working. im not saying i believe her eihter way, but it makes alot of sense not to have filed suit at the time, and in terms of not filing a statement of claim until a year later – u have two years to do it in alot of jurisdictions, and considering the industry she works in, she probably had alot of thinking to do before going ahead and filing a suit like this. she knows she very possible will not going to be getting work after this – its not an easy decision to make, whether ur making it up/telling the truth/just exaggerating. how long it took to file is totally irrelevant.
EXACTLY what I was thinking-her unemployment must be at an end. Hey, Nicolette…try Burger King!
Personally, I am just waiting for someone to come out and say late April Fools or something. I just can’t believe that this guy did this, but if a lawsuit is being filed 2 years later, I guess I will have to buy it. Still waiting for the gotcha moment though.
So just because a lawsuit is filed means you have to believe it? Good thing you’re not a lawyer.
Cherry is a gay Republican. His evil knows no bounds.
I totally believe it. Marc Cherry is a megalomanical nasty beyotch. And she’s a repuglican. What a piece of garbage.
This smells of a revenge suit to me…
Me too. He did, after all, fire her. That’s gotta hurt. Especially in Hollywood.
also the situation just sounds so silly. she asked a question and he just started beating her? yeah right.
They did not get alone and he almost got rid of the character several times.
The old queen slaps around women? Who knew?
Well he ruined the show when she left so not only did he commit assault, he also committed suicide.
She should sue her plastic surgeon.
Yikes!
zomg
Wow, I like Marc Cherry more than I thought I did!
You’re disgusting. You are probably just like Mark Cherry, who lived in his mother’s basement until this show got sold to ABC.
I totally believe Nicolette Sheridan; did you see the way they killed her off!? I’m surprised she even did it.
I thought Edie’s exit was very moving and thoughtful of the character. She left the show having enriched the lives of those around her,not as an oversexed maneater.
To Brian: Gee-you thnk sexual harrassment and physical abuse is a good thing? Get a freaking life. No wait-crawl into the hole you started out in
Really! Let’s give Marc a medal, along with Orson Hodge for causing Edie’s accident to begin with
This is better than anything on the show!
Talk about an attention wh*re!
For crying out loud, he was a major writer on “The Golden Girls”…and he didn’t hit any old ladies on THAT show!
Would YOU have taken a swipe at Bea Arthur?? If you had, it would’ve been the last!
Good point :>
(although I’d have been more afraid of Estelle Getty…she seems like a feisty one!)
I dunno, I loved all 4 of the GG…but if there was some type of GG Deathmatch, Bea would’ve smoked them all and still had time to get her nails done.
That’s because he knew we could beat the crap out of him.
and honey you can say that again.
I was very tempted to post the comment again (I did not post the first one) because that’s what Rose would have said in response to Blanche.
Good one, Ssnetblaze
That’s because he knew we could beat the crap out of him.
(Boy is my timing off!)
That’s not the only thing that’s off!
How do you know Sherlock? Why do you think Bea wore the scarf.
Didn’t he work for Dixie Carter as her personal assistant or on Designing Women? I have a hard time believing it, but anything is possible.
WOAH is this real?
Was he this abusive when he wrote for the Golden Girls? Poor Betty White!
Lol. I doubt anyone would have let that happen to those women. Or at least I hope.
The fact that she is seeking a monetary reimbursement instead of a district attorney should tell you everything. She is a lying bitch.
Well, this certainly puts even more gallons of fuel to the ever-increasing fire these two burnt up.
:O
She’s probably going after publicity but I would love to see this show finally CXLed once and for all.
Marc Cherry = Gay Republican = Automatic Douche
Oh shut up.
No, you shut up Louise.
Okay. I will never disagree with you again. I love you.
LOL Louise. Nice.
He’s republican?
Crispy rocks.
Word! and I support gays LOL even not being gay. Can’t support gay republicans blah!
That’s just silly. Being gay doesn’t make you a douche.
Does anyone remember what gay and douche really mean?
Sure crispy, I these “gay republicans” also live on Pandora and ride unicorns.
I BET these….
My only problem is that if it’s true, why wasn’t something filed earlier. I know it says ABC did nothing, but wouldn’t she have gone to the police earlier? Why wait 2 years?
If it’s true, than he’s an a****** and will get what’s coming to him.
He tried to do that to the Golden Girls but Bea Arthur whipped his ass.
I met him once and found him to be entirely unpleasant. Not hard to imagine him behaving this way.
So you met him and based on this unpleasant encounter, you can see him smacking someone? Aren’t you just a tad judgmental? He could have had a bad day when he met you. Or maybe you’re not his type. A lot of people met Ted Bundy and thought him wonderful. Turns out, not so much.