The Source Suit

Two former high-ranking female executives at hip-hop magazine The Source have filed charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission accusing execs David Mays and Raymond “Benzino” Scott of gender discrimination, sexual harassment and unlawful retaliation.

The claims were filed by Kimberly Osorio, the first female editor-in-chief of The Source, and Michelle Joyce, who was the VP of marketing, according to a statement. The suit claims female employees were consistently discriminated against in favor of male employees, particularly with respect to hiring, promotions, compensation, benefits, working hours and discipline.

The women complained about discrimination and were subsequently fired, according to the charges. Osorio alleges she was terminated shortly after she refused to give into Scott’s and Mays’ repeated demands to rescind a complaint to the company’s human resources department.

In a statement to MTV, The Source said: “Neither of those women ever filed any complaints during many years of working at The Source. It raises a lot of questions when these types of charges are made subsequent to valid and legitimate terminations of their employment.”

The magazine’s statement also makes its own accusations against the women saying, “Also, it is a fact that Osorio had sexual relations with a number of high-profile rap artists during her employment as editor-in-chief. We also suspect that Joyce falsified health claims in an effort to attack The Source when she learned that she was going to be terminated. We look forward to our day in court on this matter.”

The plaintiffs are said to be seeking an undisclosed amount of money.

Meanwhile, Scott has reportedly stepped down as chief brand manager for The Source. He blamed the departure on irreconcilable differences between the magazine and its investor, Black Enterprise, and also said he’s tired of court battles with his nemesis Eminem.

“Everyone is too politically correct,” Scott told MTV. “I plan on creating another magazine that has my voice, which represents the little guy. It’s because of the manipulation of SoundScan and radio that hip-hop is losing its edge.”