Sherman Oaks Celebrity Stylist Sued For Discrimination

LOS ANGELES, CA — A fashion stylist with many celebrity clients was sued Tuesday by a former employee who alleges he was subjected to disparate treatment because he is gay and was forced to resign in 2020 because of intolerable work conditions.

Kevin Ericson brought the Los Angeles Superior Court complaint against Cristina Ehrlich and her Sherman Oaks business, Little White Dog Inc. The suit alleges sexual harassment and discrimination, failure to prevent harassment and discrimination, constructive discharge and various violations of the state Labor Code.

"Throughout Mr. Ericson's employment, Ms. Ehrlich subjected him to a hostile work environment based on sexual orientation," the suit states. "The comments made by Ms. Ehrlich were offensive and/or unwelcome."

Ericson seeks at least $1 million in compensatory damages, restitution and punitive damages. Ehrlich could not be immediately reached for a response.

Ehrlich's celebrity clients include actresses Penelope Cruz, Margot Robbie, Julianna Margulies and Tina Fey, and she was recognized as "Celebrity Stylist of the Year" in 2012, the suit states. Ehrlich also is working collaborating with Pandora as a brand ambassador, according to the suit.

Ericson was hired in 2015 and his duties included receiving and shipping packages from designers for client fittings, coordinating clothes being received and returned for client fittings with designers and showrooms, managing client fittings, coordinating with tailors and clients' teams and coordinating Ehrlich's business schedule and travel, the suit states.

According to the complaint, Ehrlich called Ericson a gay slur in front of another employee, accused him of using his sexual orientation to form a "gay alliance" against her with another homosexual agent and forced the plaintiff to discipline other male gays in the office for behaving "too gay," the suit states.

Ehrlich told Ericson to "tone down the gayness" because it made her uncomfortable, the suit alleges.

Ehrlich told Ericson and others that he was a "nice, sweet boy" when she hired him, but then became a different personality because of his sexual orientation, the suit states.

Ehrlich undermined Ericson's performance in front of such famous clients as Fey, Priyanka Chopra, Natasha Lyonne, Uzo Aduba, Brie Larson, Alison Brie and Laura Dern, the suit states.

Some clients told Ericson they agreed he was in an abusive situation, the suit states.

Ehrlich often forced Ericson into conversations in which she jokingly said she was a lesbian, implicitly making jokes that being a homosexual would be a last resort or lifestyle choice, the suit states.

Ehrlich called and texted Ericson at all hours, always expecting immediate responses even outside of the plaintiff's work hours, the suit states.

Many days Ehrlich would require Ericson to stay in the office after hours, during which time she would drink alcohol and make personal calls, the suit states. Ericson did not receive timely rest and meal breaks, the suit states.

Ericson resigned in March 2020 because he could not longer endure the allegedly intolerable work conditions, the suit states.

City News Service