A former production assistant on upcoming crime drama series Criminal has sued Amazon MGM Studios and Big Indie Pictures, accusing the companies of turning a blind eye to a hostile work environment created by showrunner Ed Brubaker.
The production assistant, Ijaaz Noohu, seeks unspecified damages and brings claims for sexual and racial harassment, religious discrimination, assault, and battery, among others. In one alleged incident, Brubaker pointed a working firearm at Noohu’s face and pulled the trigger, according to the lawsuit filed on Wednesday in California state court. (The complaint did not specify more detail about the alleged firearm incident.)
Noohu was hired to work on Criminal, based on the interlocking world of crime stories from comic book powerhouse Brubaker, in February 2023 by Big Indie (A Complete Unknown, Manchester by the Sea, Still Alice, Fallout, Mr. and Mrs. Smith). Soon after that, the lawsuit says, Brubaker started to subject Noohu to “repeated and pervasive” sexual harassment by making comments about running his hands through Noohu’s hair, joking about rape and rubbing Noohu’s back.
Separately, Brubaker directed “demeaning stereotypes” about curry, comments invoking the “Tiger Mom” trope, references to Never Have I Ever and comments about Noohu’s presumed facility with math at the production assistant, a Sri Lankan American filmmaker, according to the complaint. Noohu was also frequently asked whether he supports Hamas, the lawsuit says.
Noohu claims the hostile work environment culminated with Brubaker firing a functional firearm aimed at his face in an incident that was witnessed by a senior producer, who ultimately ignored event.
“That a supervisor with authority over the entire production would commit such an act — and that it would go unchecked — illustrates the culture of impunity that pervaded the criminal production,” writes Fahim Rahman, a lawyer for Noohu, in the complaint.
When he asked for a promotion, the lawsuit alleges, Noohu saw his exit date moved up and was later barred from the set in retaliation for challenging the alleged misconduct on set. His employment ended in September 2024, according to the complaint, which notes that he wasn’t credited on the production.
The lawsuit faults Amazon MGM, which declined to comment, and Big Indie, which didn’t respond to a request for comment, for failing to investigate the alleged harassment and discrimination “occurring in plain view and witnessed by multiple people, including senior producers. This includes executive producer Phillip Barnett, who directed others to avoid documenting complaints and on multiple occasions stated, “Don’t say that in front of me,” and “La la, I’m not hearing that.”
Amazon MGM Studios handed out a formal series order for Criminal in 2024. The series is the first in which Brubaker, whose TV credits include Westworld, Too Old to Die Young and Batman: Caped Crusader, is the showrunner. He’s among the most acclaimed scribes in comics, writing on Marvel and DC titles including Batman, Catwoman, and Captain America, creating the character of the Winter Soldier on the latter. Brubaker didn’t respond to a request for comment.