Iliza Shlesinger is facing a lawsuit from a man who complained that her show Girls Night In With Iliza — No Boys Allowed is a "War on Men." The man filed a legal complaint because the comedian allegedly broke the California state laws that prohibit discrimination based on gender.
Shlesinger was fairly clear about her target audience when she announced her Nov. 13 performance at the Largo at the Coronet on her Instagram. The former Last Comic Standing winner clearly said that the show was strictly for girls only.
However, a 21-year-old California resident named George St. George, who filed the complaint, and his friend decided to buy tickets for the show anyway. In the legal document obtained by the Hollywood Reporter, St. George alleged that he and his friend were turned away.
Initially, St. George and his friend were told by will-call window's female employee that they would have to sit at the back row of the theater because of their gender. The friends then left to grab a bite to eat before showtime. However, when they tried to enter the theater later near showtime, the same employee turned them away because clearly, no boys allowed in the show. The employee also refunded their money.
St. George's attorney, Alfred G. Rava, likened his client's experience to injustices perpetrated during the Civil Rights Movement. He also described Shlesinger's action as a "war on men."
Rava argued that Shlesinger and her decision to host a girl's only show is a violation of California's Unruh Civil Rights Act, which prohibits businesses from discrimination based on sex. The attorney added that Girls Night In With Iliza — No Boys Allowed "repudiated hundreds of years of women's struggles to be viewed as being equal to men." He added that it is "typical of old-fashioned sexism."
Aside from Shlesinger, Rava is also suing UTA and Largo at The Coronet. As for St. George's demands, the lawsuit states that he is seeking compensation for costs incurred, an injunction barring defendants from engaging in unequal treatment of customers, and orders the comedian to undergo "sensitivity training regarding sex discrimination." St. George is also asking for "damages in amounts to be proven at trial."
Shlesinger has since released a statement to address the complaint. The comedian said that she is unable to comment on the specifics of the lawsuit since it is a legal matter.
"I will say that of the many shows I do throughout the year, Girls Night In was a singular evening that encouraged women to get together, talk and laugh about the things we go through as well as donate some money to Planned Parenthood. It's unfortunate that this has now become an issue." Shlesinger said in a statement sent to Entertainment Weekly.
