CBS responds as the TV show Matlock is sued over serious accusations, including racism

'We look forward to vigorously defending this lawsuit'

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Kieran Galpin
18th June 2026, 12:35
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Legal drama Matlock has found itself in some legal trouble of its own, with former writer John Lowe alleging a pattern of racism, harassment, and abuse.

Matlock, starring the likes of Kathy Bates, Skye P. Marshall, and Jason Ritter, is a legal drama about a widowed lawyer returning to work. It’s produced by CBS.

John Lowe, a Black writer who worked on 18 episodes of the show, was fired by CBS just two weeks after he’d filed a report against showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman. In it, he claimed that she’d referred to the holiday Juneteenth as “Coonteenth.”

Now, in a lawsuit filed against CBS, executive producers Nicki Renna and Jeffrey Lieber, and the showrunner herself, John alleged a “hostile work environment” due to “racially stereotyped comments” that were made about his body and genitals. It happened to other Black staff too, he claimed.

Credit: CBS
Credit: CBS

In one instance alleged in the lawsuit, Jennie Snyder Urman reportedly brought a black dog into the office because her kids “didn’t like the aesthetic.” John ended up taking care of the dog for more than a year, something he felt was “racially motivated” to humiliate him in front of other staff.

On executive producer Nicki Renna, John claimed that she’d stated that actress Eme Ikwuakor “can barely read.” Nicki allegedly messaged John in the dead of night to tell him that she was “in bed wearing only her underwear.”

CBS has now responded to the Matlock lawsuit

CBS held firm as they confirmed that an investigation into John’s allegations had been carried out. It found no evidence of wrongdoing.

In a statement following the lawsuit, the TV network said: “We are committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for everyone and take all workplace complaints seriously. In this instance, a thorough investigation was completed, and we were unable to find support for his allegations. We look forward to vigorously defending this lawsuit.”

This is not the first time Matlock has had legal issues. Last year, actor David Del Rio was fired after co-star Leah Lewis reported an on-the-job s*xual assault.

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Featured image credit: CBS