Baller Alert Entertainment & Lifestyle
Philippa, wife of 49ers player Lawrence Okoye, says she was constantly sexually harassed at work and even her boss mocked her relationship with a black athlete.
Via NY Post
The wife of an NFL player says she worked in a real-life “Wolf of Wall Street’’ office where co-workers sexually harassed her and openly mocked her marriage to a black man.
“How many cheerleaders has your boyfriend f–ked today?” Philippa Okoye, 27, who is white, said her boss sneered at her at their deVere Group office in Manhattan, according to a new federal lawsuit.
Referring to Okoye’s now-husband, British Olympic athlete and San Francisco 49er defensive tackle Lawrence Okoye, the boss allegedly added, “He’s probably f–ked the whole cheerleading squad by now.’’
Higher-up Benjamin Alderson “made it known that he wanted to model [their] office on the ‘Boiler Room’ and ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ films,’’ Philippa’s suit says.
“In those films, employees of male-dominated investment firms used highly offensive language and engaged in extremely inappropriate conduct, including sexual harassment and drug and alcohol use in the workplace.”
Philippa says she was the only woman in the Midtown office when she was hired as a senior investment adviser in October 2013.
Surrounded by about 21 male co-workers, she was exposed to sexist antics the first day, she said.
“So can you handle the banter or are you going to be a woman about it and be sensitive?’’ Alderson snipped, she said.
Philippa said that another time, a worker near her announced, “I think it’s disgusting when white women go out with black guys.’’
A second worker said, “Don’t change your surname [to Okoye] if you marry Lawrence, because people will think you’re black,’’ she said.
“Yeah, and that’s not good for business,’’ Alderson allegedly added.
When other women visited, the men would rate whether they were worth “f–king,’’ Philippa said.
Philippa said that when she complained to Alderson, he seethed, “This is why I didn’t want women in the office.’’
Philippa says she was demoted and fired. She is suing for damages.
“While the suit can’t repair the emotional distress our client had and continues to experience, the employer must be held accountable for their unlawful actions,” said her lawyer, Kenneth Katz.
DeVere referred calls to Alderson, who did not return a message seeking comment.
If she can prove this, she’ll own that office. Literally.
