The U.S. appeals court has overturned Kevin Hunter’s $7M win against The Wendy Williams Show producers, sending the case back.
Hunter, the ex-husband of TV personality Wendy Williams, initially filed a lawsuit against production company Debmar-Mercury and producers Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus, claiming marital status discrimination. He alleged that he was wrongfully terminated from his role as executive producer following his divorce from Williams in 2019.
In his lawsuit, Hunter argued that his termination was solely based on his marital status, despite his pivotal behind-the-scenes role in the show's success. He cited contributions to key segments like “Hot Topics” and “Shoe Cam,” along with guest casting and marketing input.
However, the producers sought to dismiss the claim, stating that Hunter’s marriage to Wendy Williams specifically was not a protected class under New York state law. The Second Circuit agreed, citing a prior legal interpretation that “marital status” protection pertains to whether someone is married, unmarried, or divorced, not the identity of the spouse.
The appeals court determined that Hunter’s claim failed to demonstrate that he was targeted because of his general marital status, rather than his specific relationship with Williams. As a result, the lower court’s 2023 decision to deny dismissal of the lawsuit was reversed.
The case is now remanded for further proceedings in the lower court, where Hunter will need to address the legal limitations outlined by the appellate court.
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