‘Matlock’ Showrunner Faces Lawsuit Alleging Juneteenth Insult, Racial and Sexual Harassment

CBS series Matlock is facing a legal battle after a former writer filed a lawsuit accusing the show’s leadership of creating a hostile workplace. The complaint, filed by former writer John Lowe in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims he was fired after raising concerns about alleged racist and inappropriate behavior involving showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman and other producers.

According to the lawsuit, Lowe says he experienced what he describes as discriminatory and uncomfortable behavior while working on the Kathy Bates-led legal drama. The former executive story editor claims that Urman made an offensive comment about the Juneteenth holiday, allegedly referring to it as “Coonteenth.” Lowe said the comment shocked him and others who heard it because the holiday celebrates the end of slavery in the United States.

The lawsuit also includes claims about the workplace environment on Matlock, with Lowe alleging that he was pressured to perform personal tasks for Urman, including taking care of her dog, while feeling that his job depended on it. He also accused producers of allowing inappropriate comments and behavior toward staff members to continue.

One of the claims in the lawsuit involves alleged comments made by executive producer Nicki Renna about actor Eme Ikwuakor. Lowe claims Renna made a racially and sexually offensive remark about the actor during a workplace conversation. The lawsuit states that the comment was unrelated to the actor’s work and that Lowe found it deeply offensive.

CBS has responded to the allegations and said the company investigated Lowe’s concerns before the lawsuit was filed. In a statement, the network said, “We are committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for everyone and take all workplace complaints seriously. In this instance, a thorough investigation was completed, and we were unable to find support for his allegations. We look forward to vigorously defending this lawsuit.”

Lowe’s complaint does not only focus on alleged comments but also questions how his concerns were handled after he reported them. The lawsuit claims he was dismissed from the series in July 2025 after bringing attention to the issues.

Matlock has been a major success for CBS since its debut in 2024. The series is a modern revival of the original legal drama that starred Andy Griffith and ran from 1986 to 1995. The new version features Kathy Bates as Madeline “Matty” Matlock, a retired lawyer who returns to work and takes on major cases.

This is not the first controversy connected to the show. Earlier, actor David Del Rio left the series after CBS investigated a sexual assault allegation. According to previous reports, the investigation resulted in Del Rio being removed from the production.

The latest lawsuit adds another challenge for the CBS drama as the network prepares to defend itself against Lowe’s claims. The case is still ongoing, and the allegations have not been proven in court. CBS has denied the claims and says it plans to fight the lawsuit.

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