Nicollette Sheridan Sues 'Desperate Housewives' Creator Over Firing

By Bryan Alexander Posted Apr 5th 2010 09:25PM

Nicollette Sheridan has left 'Desperate Housewives,' but she clearly has not abandoned the explosive plot lines.

Sheridan has filed a lawsuit against 'Housewives' creator Marc Cherry, saying he struck her across the face on the set, according to TMZ. She alleges that when she complained, she was fired.

According to legal papers obtained by the Web site, Sheridan is suing for $20 million claiming assault and battery, gender violence and wrongful termination.

In the lawsuit, Sheridan claims Cherry created a hostile work environment by "behaving in an extremely abusive and aggressive manner toward the individuals who work on the show."

Things worsened between Sheridan and Cherry in the fifth season. Sheridan claims on September 24, 2008, he physically assaulted her after she questioned him about something in the script. According to the lawsuit, "Cherry took her aside and forcefully hit her with his hand across her face and head."

Watch the Girls on Pop chat about the lawsuit

According to the suit, after the alleged incident, Cherry went to her trailer to "beg forgiveness."

A spokesperson for 'Desperate Housewives' gave this statement to PopEater in response to the story: "While we have yet to see the actual complaint, we investigated similar claims made by Ms. Sheridan last year and found them to be without merit."

According to TMZ, Sheridan claims that Cherry directed his abuse at other cast and crew members, including star Teri Hatcher after she went above his head to ABC executives.

"I hope Teri Hatcher gets hit by a car and dies," Cherry told Sheridan, according to TMZ's account of the lawsuit.

Sheridan's character, realtor Edie Britt, was killed off the show last year.

Comments

(21)

Monday 05 April

By Red

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

Nicollete must be needing money and/or is having a hard time finding work. If this really happened, it should have been reported when it happened and not now. Whatever she says really doesn't make any sense considering that Marc Cherry is making a lot of money off the series and would be stupid to jeopardize it.

By ashley377

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

red, it takes awhile to put something this explosive into a legal framework...

Tuesday 06 April

By jamdam

Vote down Vote up Report this

Red, perhaps you missed the part of the article that says she was killed off the show last year.

By Marsha

I don't know about this one. I heard she was the most difficult one on set. I think she is just bitter because she was let go. Desperate Housewives is still a pretty good gig. Let's face it, she's old and there aren't a lot of parts for her to play in Hollywood now unless she plays someone's mother. And if Marc Cherry is really all that bad, no one would want to work for him.

By Paul

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

The character Nic played was REALLY important to "Desperate Housewives". The series lost it's bite for me after she left the show. The replacement they brought in is a good actress but VERY boring!!! Not sexy either like Nic. I predict the series gets canceled in another year. It will limp along in the rating a bit longer before it disappears.

By John

the only reason this seems weird is that, if Nicollette is as strong of a woman as she seems to be, she would have called the cops immediately and had the man arrested then and there..I think any actress would..but she didn't and waited all this time..it just looks weird.

By Schmice

Don't tell me, Gloria Allred will be worming her way into this lawsuit.

By Kevin

Chip ... please please please learn how to speak correctly before saying anything.

By hd

Marc Cherry= FAT, ugly, Flaming drug addict ... known for problems with Golden Girls, drug abuse, and even with his money hes a virgin (by rejection) gay ... ABC should finance a nice project for Nic ... shes an OK Actress ... and as for the hags ... quit watching a year ago ... it got too stupid.

By supertuffy86

I have no idea who Marc Cherry is! But if he worked on the Golden Girls and tried to pull that cr@p, I'm sure Betty White would've slapped him!

I don't really believe Nic's story though- sorry

By alschrod

When there is no quality to the acting OR the script, a producer can hire or fire as he pleases. In her case, just another faded TV "actress" might have looked at him cross-eyed one morning and that's all it took! I overheard my 16-yr-old refer to as a MILF and gave him heck for even watching that trash show once! But secretly, I guess she qualifies.

By kittyfriskywhiskers

They can't hire/fire as they please if there is a signed contract. Nor can the actor/actress just up and quit if there's a signed contract. Either party can sue for breach of contract, if that happens.

By Mary Bucher

You go Nicolette..that he got rid of you says it all..the show has lost its followers because he has voided the story so badly no one is interested anymore..you are a great actress..I have watched you many times and I feel you know what you are doing and you do it very well. Fight to the end..someone has to put some regulations in that the producer will follow..Maybe if he is so unhappy he should quit.

By Linda

Nicollette Sheridan is neither in need of work, nor is she close to needing money. She is engaged to a Billionaire businessman, so I doubt she is lacking for anything. As for Desperate Housewives, the show is now boring, and ignorant. Bringing in Drea, from the Sopranos, did nothing to heat up the show. Marc Cherry is a horrible, little man and I believe every word Nicollette says. Once the show fast forwarded five years, it lost its storyline. When Edie was killed off, I stopped watching altogether.

By E Dubya

You are an idiot if you believe something so bad happened to someone almost two years ago and they waited until now to file a lawsuit. Jeez, why don't you go sue all of your past teachers, because they sure didn;t teach you much. You're about as dumb as a rock!!!!

By Tamra

She should be so grateful to Marc Cherry and those involved in giving her that role in this hit television series. It was hot in the beginning but if it's still in production, I doubt it will be for much longer. All the women gained from having roles in that show. Many of them had not seen that much work or money for 15-20 years. I cannot imagine that man would do what she is accusing him of but who knows?

By vicky

you need your eyes checked! she is old and ugly and a has-been

By A.M.D

If that happened she should have slapped him right back and caused a scene to be filmed right there on the set this way there would have been no dispute. Someone could have taken a picture of the hand mark on her cheek, the police called and a report filed. She would have had a case then if they tried to fire her, now it's too late, merely here say and only looks like the accusations of a bitter actress.

Not necessarily. Shows like "Desperate Housewives" kill off and bring back to life characters all the time. Since DH's jumped 5 years ahead a couple of years ago there is room for a creative way to bring Edie Brit back to life. Lets face it the show lost it's bite when she left. The actress brought in to replace her is a fine actress but VERY dull! I think Morgan Fairchild would have been a better replacement and a total professional. Did I mention Morgan Fairchild looks GREAT at 61 years old.

By Cherie

When they fast fowarded the show 5 years it lost it's punch. I hope all the actors are saving their earnings. I don't think the show will be on much longer. I don't say that in a nasty way I just feel for them, they are at the mercy of the creator of the show..and many think he missed the ball on that storyline that changed the nuance of Desperate Housewives.

Page 1 of 2