The behind-the-scenes turmoil surrounding CBS’ Matlock reboot has taken another turn, with writer John Lowe filing a lawsuit against CBS Television Studios and several of the show’s top producers over allegations of racism, sexual harassment, and retaliation.
According to a complaint filed on Wednesday, June 17, in California state court, Lowe claims that showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman and executive producers Nicki Renna and Jeffrey Lieber presided over what he described as a workplace “permeated by sexually explicit and discriminatory conduct.”
The lawsuit names CBS Television Studios as a defendant and seeks unspecified damages. “It’s vicious in a writers’ room as a Black creative,” Lowe told The Hollywood Reporter. “You’re either treated like a threat or a pet.”
Among the allegations detailed in the complaint are repeated comments about Lowe’s race and sex life. He claims coworkers made assumptions about his anatomy based on his race and asked inappropriate questions about intimate topics.
Lowe also alleges that Renna made disparaging remarks about recurring cast member Eme Ikwuakor, at one point allegedly saying that the actor “can barely read” and that his “big Black c*ck” saves him from being fired, per TMZ.
The lawsuit further alleges that tensions reached a breaking point in June 2025 when Lowe asked whether the writers’ room would observe Juneteenth. According to the complaint, Urman responded by referring to the holiday as “C**nteenth.”
“I had prayed for this moment — to be on a Paramount film set,” Lowe told the outlet. “She said it on purpose as a way of letting me know that she owns me to a degree.”
Lowe says he was placed on hiatus shortly afterward and terminated in July 2025, less than two weeks after raising concerns about the workplace. His attorney, Ron Zambrano, said in a statement, “There is no excuse for this blatant racism and harassment. CBS should be ashamed for allowing it, and the Matlock showrunner and producers should be held accountable.”
CBS Studios pushed back on the claims.
“We are committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for everyone and take all workplace complaints seriously,” a spokesperson said. “In this instance, a thorough investigation was completed, and we were unable to find support for his allegations. We look forward to vigorously defending this lawsuit.”
The lawsuit arrives months after another high-profile controversy involving the series. Actor David Del Rio, who played Billy Martinez, was fired in October 2025 following a sexual assault allegation involving co-star Leah Lewis. CBS later conducted a supplemental review and upheld its decision to remove the actor from the show.
Holley said Del Rio plans to present text messages and other evidence that she argues “directly contradict” public characterizations of the incident and were “not fully considered before adverse employment action was taken.”
Despite the growing legal battles, Matlock has remained one of CBS’s biggest successes. The Kathy Bates-led reboot has averaged roughly 16 million viewers across platforms and has already secured a third-season renewal.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, help is available. In the United States, confidential support is available through the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or via online chat at rainn.org.
