Judge Allows Black Ex-McDonald's VPs Harassment Claims to Proceed

A federal judge in Chicago allowed two former McDonald's vice presidents to pursue hostile-work-environment claims against the company, ruling that allegations a regional president called employees "angry Black women" and criticized their "Black woman attitude" were serious enough to survive dismissal.

U.S. District Judge Mary Rowland issued the mixed ruling over March 18-19, allowing the harassment and retaliation claims by Victoria Guster-Hines and Domineca Neal to move forward while throwing out a separate set of claims. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2020, alleges the two women were subjected to racial slurs because they are Black women and then forced out of the company for complaining.

Rowland dismissed the plaintiffs' claim that McDonald's discriminated against them by passing them over for a promotion, finding they had not shown they were the best candidates for the role both had sought. But the judge drew a sharp line at the alleged epithets, writing that "courts confronted with accusations regarding 'angry Black women' have noted that this epithet carries significant harm with it," especially when made by a supervisor.

A McDonald's spokesperson said the company was pleased that most of the claims had been dismissed. "The evidence will show the remaining claims against McDonald's USA are without merit," the spokesperson said.

The ruling adds to a string of high-profile discrimination cases McDonald's has faced involving Black employees, franchisees, and business partners. In 2022, a different federal judge in Chicago dismissed a lawsuit by more than 50 McDonald's franchisees who alleged the company steered Black operators toward less profitable locations, though that judge granted leave to amend. McDonald's motion to dismiss the amended complaint remains pending.

Last year, McDonald's settled a $10 billion lawsuit brought by media entrepreneur Byron Allen, who accused the chain of excluding Black-owned media from much of its advertising budget. Terms were not disclosed, though McDonald's said the resolution would involve purchasing ads from Allen's companies.

With the hostile-work-environment and retaliation claims now cleared to proceed, Guster-Hines and Neal's case moves toward the discovery phase, where both sides will be required to produce evidence underlying the allegations first raised six years ago.