AT&T fires exec for sending racist texts, faces $100M suit
Telecom giant AT&T has fired an executive who was sued this week for allegedly using his work cell phone to keep and send racially offensive images.
Aaron Slator was terminated after employee Knoyme King, 50, accused him and other executives at AT&T of subjecting her to discriminatory behavior.
"There is no place for demeaning behavior within AT&T, and we regret the action was not taken earlier," the company said in a statement confirming Slator's dismissal.
The images at issue were found in Slator's possession when he asked an assistant to transfer data from an old phone to a new one, the lawsuit said.
One of the images depicted an African child dancing with the racist caption "It's Friday N----s," the lawsuit said.
According to the lawsuit, Slator once sent the image in a text describing it as "an oldie but a goodie."
"Slator harbors obvious and deep-seated racial animus toward African Americans," the lawsuit obtained by the Daily News said. "Slator's decisions regarding hiring, firing, promotions and raises are infected by his racism."
The suit, filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, names multiple defendants including Slator, company CEO Randall Stephenson, other executives at the company's Los Angeles office and board member Joyce Roche.
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