Perry Ellis is the latest fashion brand to come under fire for its discriminatory practices. The company is being sued by after the chief operating officer and president Oscar Feldenkreis allegedly said things like “no blacks in my ads” or “anyone who looked too gay.”
According to the senior account executive Joseph Cook who filed the lawsuit, he has been “forced to endure highly offensive homophobic, racial and ethnic slurs” from Feldenkreis, who is set to succeed his father as CEO of the company, reports The Guardian.
Cook reveals in the suit that Feldenkreis had black models on a color coded system. In one instance, Cook couldn't recall what "not 05" meant, to which Feldenkreis provided an image of a spectrum of Crayola crayons.
The company, which also owns the labels Original Penguin, Ping, and Nike Swim, “categorically denies” all the allegations.
Perry Ellis issued this statement following the suit, "Perry Ellis is a company that promotes equal opportunity and a positive working environment. The company is proud of the fact that it is probably one of the most diverse companies in the apparel business following its multicultural roots, stemming from Puerto Rico and Cuba. Perry Ellis categorically denies any allegations to the contrary. The claims that have been asserted will be vigorously defended against.”
