MSNBC contributor Al Sharpton has found himself on the receiving end of a racial discrimination lawsuit. The National Association of African-American Owned Media filed suit Friday in Los Angeles against Comcast and Time Warner, accusing them of discriminating against black-owned media companies, and asking for $20 billion in damages. The two media giants are in the process of seeking regulatory approval to merge.
How does Sharpton fit in? The Hollywood Reporter explains that when Comcast acquired NBCUniversal in 2010, it entered into a “memoranda of understanding with the NAACP, the National Urban League and the National Action Network,” but that there was a little something extra in it for Sharpton:
“The lawsuit goes on to say that Comcast made large cash “donations” to obtain support for its acquisition. The money includes $3.8 million to Sharpton and his National Action Network. The money, it’s charged, was meant to pay Sharpton to endorse the NBCU deal and divert attention away from discrimination.
As for Sharpton’s MSNBC gig, the complaint says, ‘Despite the notoriously low ratings that Sharpton’s show generates, Comcast has allowed Sharpton to maintain his hosting position for more than three years in exchange for Sharpton’s continued public support for Comcast on issues of diversity.'” Sharpton denies the allegations, telling THR that his show has not continued because of any payback for his support on racial issues:
“…he believes he has the most successful show in the 6 p.m. hour at MSNBC, ‘the numbers speak for themselves.'” A spokesperson for the National Action Network responded:
“‘National Action Network has not been served with any papers and considers this claim frivolous,’ says a spokesperson. ‘If in fact we were to be served, we would gladly defend our relationship with any company as well as to state on the record why we found these discriminatory accusations made by said party to be less than credible and beneath the standards that we engage in.'” Comcast did not respond in detail, but said they will “defend vigorously against the scurrilous allegations in this complaint.”
