The Mail Online has reported the ordeal of the white wife of a Nigerian-British NFL player who said she was hounded about her interracial marriage and repeatedly sexually harassed while working at an investment firm in the United States.
Philippa Okoye, 27, a British citizen, is suing Manhattan based deVere Group in federal court, claiming she was demoted and then fired from her job as a senior investment adviser after she complained about the ‘Wolf of Wall Street’-style racist and sexist treatment at the firm.
Mrs Okoye is married to Lawrence Okoye, a British Olympic discus thrower and defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers. Mr Okoye was born in Croydon, south London, to Nigerian parents. He played rugby for Whitgift School, before taking up discus. He competed in the discus throw for Team Great Britain in the 2012 Olympics, placing 12th.
Mrs Okoye alleges that one co-worker told her: ‘I think it’s disgusting when white women go out with black guys.’
DeVere Group are denying the charges, calling Mrs Okoye a disgruntled ex-employee who was fired for legitimate reasons.
‘These false and incredulous allegations made by a disgruntled former employee are vigorously and categorically denied,’ the company said in a statement.
‘We are shocked and dismayed that a legitimate employment termination has sparked such a malicious response.’
Mrs Okoye, who was engaged to the athlete at the time, says in the lawsuit that her boss Benjamin Alderson led much of the harassment.
At one point, a coworker allegedly told her: ‘Don’t change your surname if you marry Lawrence, because people will think you’re black
‘Yeah, and that’s not good for business,’ Alderson allegedly chimed in, according to the New York Post.
*Photo Credit: Mail Online
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3087697/White-wife-says-harassed-marriage-black-NFL-player.html#ixzz3af80bqBw
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