Two Black former employees of TikTok have filed a lawsuit alleging that they were racially discriminated against and fired after they reported the discrimination to human resources.
Nnete Matima and Joël Carter claim in their Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint that they were treated worse than their white peers while at TikTok, which has more than 150 million users in the United States and is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese tech company.
Matima, who was a business development representative, said that her managers called her a “Black Snake” and that she was “retaliated against in so many ways” after she reported the discrimination.
Carter, who worked as a policy manager, said that TikTok fosters “fear and silence among its own workers” and that “TikTok’s leadership pursues growth at all costs, even if it means discriminating and retaliating against Black professionals like me.”
The lawsuit is a reminder of the importance of speaking out against discrimination, even in the face of retaliation. It is also a reminder that companies have a responsibility to create a workplace where all employees feel safe and respected.
TikTok has denied the allegations, saying that it takes employee concerns very seriously and has strong policies in place that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
The case is still ongoing, but it is important to note that discrimination is never okay. If you believe that you have been discriminated against at work, you should speak to an attorney to discuss your legal options.