JT's Eatery -- Bringing Sexual Harrassment Back?

Justin TimberlakeThe restaurant Justin Timberlake helped open in NY has just been hit with a sexual harassment suit, after a former employee claims JT's business partners forced her to watch porn to the point she broke into tears.

In the suit, obtained by the NY Daily News, Alison McDaniel alleges "vile" acts courtesy of Southern Hospitality. McDaniel says she was spit on and called numerous expletives.

McDaniel claims Justin's business partners -- Eytan Sugarman and Ronnie Kaplan -- made her watch "pornography while in a locked room... and made fun of her when she began crying."

The suit claims Alison was fired after complaining.

Justin, along with Sugarman and Kaplan and Trace Ayala, are all named as defendants.

UPDATE: Justin's people just send us this comment: "While Justin and Trace Ayala continue their friendship with Eytan Sugarman who owns Southern Hospitality, they are not investors, owners, or partners, nor do they have any knowledge of or involvement in the operations of the restaurant."

UPDATE: A spokesman for "Southern Hospitality" just gave TMZ the following statement:

"Southern Hospitality has not been served with a copy of any complaint, therefore, we can not comment on any specific allegations.

Launch PhotosWe can say that the complainant is an ex-employee who was terminated for cause over a year ago. We will vigorously defend any allegations of wrongdoing or improper behavior."

Tags: Alison McDaniel, AlisonMcdaniel, Eytan Sugarman, EytanSugarman, Justin timberlake, JustinTimberlake, lawsuit, new york, NewYork, NYC, restuarant, sexual harassment, SexualHarassment, Southern Hospitality, SouthernHospitality

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(Page 2 of 3) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

16. Gay Porn

Posted at 7:46PM on May 15th 2009 by OhWell

17. Man, you people are some sick f's. Porn has become so normalized in this culture, it is twisted. Porn is debasing and exploitative towards women but of course you're all a bunch of sick morons who need porn to have any kind of sexual related contact, or ever see a female naked.

The restaurant obviously trumped up a phony reason to fire her. Now they'll say she's a "disgruntled ex-employee" getting revenge for being fired, blah blah blah blah blah. The stupid slimy lawyers will pull out all the usual attacks and defenses from the dogeared playbook.

This woman deserves to win BIG TIME. This kind of crap from creepy lowlife losers must stop.

What's next? Clooney comes rushing to the restaurant's defense?

Posted at 8:02PM on May 15th 2009 by Good For Her

18. JT has set the precadent for indecent behaviour with the Super Bowl, Diick in a box, and the Mothers Day Short he did on SNL last week----is it any suprise his partners (of the persuassion btw) take his cues as cues to sexually harrass those they employ? I hope in civil court they throw the book at them where the place gets closed because no one wants to go there.

Dirty on site Management is the worst thing any celebrity can do when being an absentee owner----picking these two heeb butt grabbers will prove to be a huge mistake for JT...guess he isnt making jokes when he does all those dirty related TV things, seems too real now.

Posted at 2:38PM on May 16th 2009 by Tears of a Clown

19. TMZ isn't keeping up with the news too well are you. Justin and Trace sold out their investments in Southern Hospitality quite awhile ago to the guy managing it. So this woman will have fun trying to get anything out of them. This suit sounds preposterous though so she probably only filed it thinking Timberlake still owned the restaurant and she might make some money.

Posted at 9:00PM on May 15th 2009 by susan

20. #18 You are so full of it, Justin's PR person released a statement when the wait staff sued for back wages a few months ago stating Trace and Justin were NEVER investors or partners. Bet you didn't know that huh?
You know why? Because while it suited Justin he let the media think he was partner and owner/investor. However, as soon as the law suits start they backed away from the restaurant. Just admit your boy JT is a phony and is all about image and selling people out for his own fame and success.

Posted at 2:01PM on May 17th 2009 by Lisa

21. i think jt is adorable...but really, locking someone in a room, with or without porn, is just wrong.

Posted at 11:55PM on May 15th 2009 by whynot

22. Okay so who cries while watching porn. Weird....

Posted at 1:43AM on May 16th 2009 by Aerosmith14

23. Posted at 8:02PM on May 15th 2009 by Good For Her

I'm with you. I'm no prude but that $hit is uncalled for.

Eytan Sugarman and Ronnie Kaplan have officially been outed as creepy perverts.

Posted at 2:25AM on May 16th 2009 by MAMA HOFFERS

24. Posted at 1:43AM on May 16th 2009 by Aerosmith14

Okay, I hope all you and all the other deviants on this blog land in prison cell with a big, fat, hairy man-lover who is looking at your a$$ like a Philly Cheese Steak...and the guards turn their heads and laugh at you.

Posted at 2:45AM on May 16th 2009 by burgers and fries

25. Any competent judge will throw that case out of court. The b*tch just wants money. She's so evil, she'll probably find a way to add Timberlake's name in the suit just so she could get paid. B*tches ain't sh*t.

Posted at 6:07AM on May 16th 2009 by B*tches Ain't Sh*t and the legal system should grow a pair and check these tramps.

26. "forced" to watch porn? Yeah right.

Posted at 6:10AM on May 16th 2009 by the b*tch is a liar!!! She's going to hell. HA HA HA

27. F*ck that. Timberlake should file a countersuit for Defamation of Character and put a lien on her hut. Timberlake can afford his own place but it's just the principle. This b*tch needs to learn you can't con innocent people just because we're in a recession.

Posted at 6:18AM on May 16th 2009 by Alison McDaniel: spat on while watching porn... the new foreplay. LMAO. What a liar.

28. The lawyer must have thought that JT was still involved in the business, and yes - went after the deep pockets. That's what lawyers do, even the ethical ones. Must not have been a terribly good lawyer, though - need to check that out first before starting a lawsuit.

It doesn't matter whether it was porn or It's a Wonderful Life - forcing someone to stay in a locked room with you is wrong and illegal (involuntary imprisonment, anyone?). It also would be quite stressful, wondering what the heck the crazies were going to do next.

It's especially difficult dealing with such sexual harassment (and that is what it is, among other things) from people who control your paycheck. I had to put up with too much garbage myself from men on the job before I became my own boss- you want to kick the guy in the groin but have to restrain yourself for the sake of the job. The sleazebags always wait until there are no other witnesses around, they're like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Other guys they work with can't see a problem because they're not around when it happens. So they assume the women are "overreacting" at best or lying at worst when women complain.

Anyway -- if it's true, she has a case. And guys - before snickering about it, ask yourself what your daughter, wife, mother, or grandmother would have felt in such a situation. Safe or unsafe?

Posted at 9:49AM on May 16th 2009 by jwoolman

29. forced her to watch porn??LMAOOOOOOOO
how old is this chick anyway..12??
I wonder if they "forced her to have sex" too...gosh the things people do for money

Posted at 10:43AM on May 16th 2009 by Google-me-bitch!

30. Gee, wonder why anyone would think Justin was involved in the business? Couldn't be because he made people think that or because he's still listed on their website?
GMAFB.

Posted at 2:01PM on May 17th 2009 by Lisa

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