Thursday, May 14, 2015

CBS, Sony Say Lawsuit by Former ‘Young and the Restless’ Star Victoria Rowell Is 'Patently Absurd'

Victoria Rowell
CBS and Sony Pictures Television have filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit by former The Young and the Restless star Victoria Rowell (Drucilla Winters), who claims that she wasn't re-hired in retaliation for her “public and private complaints regarding the lack of diversity in front of and behind the camera on the show.” She further claims that she also attempted to join Y&R’s sister soap The Bold and the Beautiful, but was denied.

In the new legal papers, filed in U.S. district court in California on Wednesday, the two companies not only re-assert their earlier contention that casting decisions are protected by the First Amendment — they say that Rowell never actually applied or auditioned for a role on Y&R after her 2007 departure from the soap opera.

“Instead, she alleges she asked Defendants on several occasions if they would create a new position that she played, Drucilla Winters, back into the Y&R story line. Specifically, Plaintiff wanted to Defendants to create a story line for Drucilla Winters, and to cast Plaintiff in the role,” the filing reads. “Defendants never agreed to do so.”

As for the potential Bold and the Beautiful role that Rowell alleges her agent submitted her for in 2013, the filing reads, “that role never actually made it on the show. Plaintiff never applied for any other role on B&B.”

“This lawsuit is nothing more than a blatant attempt by Plaintiff to force her way back onto a daytime television soap opera after she voluntarily resigned from her role in 2007,” CBS and Sony say in the papers.

Watch Victoria Rowell's February press conference where she first announced the lawsuit below.

8 comments:

  1. With the hiring of Chuck Pratt as head writer and executive producer, CBS and Sony definitely understand the meaning of "patently absurd" but I'm rooting for Ms. Rowell here. A LOT of water is under the bridge but if Y&R is perfectly okay with Mr. Pratt writing the show the way he is, surely they can deal with whatever backstage drama they assume would come from Ms. Rowell. The story of Drucilla's return pretty much writes itself, and could help offset the madness that is Kelly and "The Killer". I totally understand how CBS and Sony might feel after so much has been said over the years BUT I still can't wrap my brain around the fact that they think hiring her back is a worse idea than hiring Chuck Pratt and giving him free reign.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What an apt comparison? Roger, have made the best argument I can think of in support of Victoria Rowell and indicting CBS/Sony/Y&R. Chuck Pratt and Jill Farren Phelps has destroyed the show in record time yet somehow Rowell's return would be the worst thing for the show? I think not. Further, I think Rowell's return would offer a considerable boost to the failing ratings. Team Rowell!

      Delete
  2. I would think Rowell would be a pain in the butt to work with. She's simply nuts.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Can I sue too for not being on either show?

    ReplyDelete
  4. No producer should be forced to enter into a contract with an an actor or write for that actor's character.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ms Rowell is like a dog with a bone --- she won't let it go !!! It's been more than 8 years since her departure from Y&R and she's been yappin' about this for years. she need to get on with her life and stop blaming TPTB at Y&R and B&B fo r not hiring her --- she needs to get a new life --- Ms. Rowell is using her race for more free money --- get a life girl !!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ms Rowell is like a dog with a bone --- she won't let it go !!! It's been more than 8 years since her departure from Y&R and she's been yappin' about this for years. she need to get on with her life and stop blaming TPTB at Y&R and B&B fo r not hiring her --- she needs to get a new life --- Ms. Rowell is using her race for more free money --- get a life girl !!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I Have Always Thought That Miss Victoria Rowell Has Been Clearly Shooting Herself In The Foot Professionally And Legally. Wow! Enough Is Enough Already, Miss Victoria Rowell! (Y) <3 :-| :-|

    Brian :-|

    ReplyDelete