Sharon Stone’s former live-in nanny has accused the actress of racism, religious persecution and unfair dismissal.
Erlinda T Elemen filed a nine-page civil complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday, which claims Stone repeatedly made derogatory remarks about her Filipino heritage, including numerous comments equating being Filipino with being stupid.
Elemen says Stone told her not to speak to her children because she didn’t want them to “talk like you” and frequently criticised Elemen’s “deeply held religious beliefs” once banning her from reading her bible.
The former nanny and housekeeper worked for Stone from October 2006 until February 2011. According to the suit, Stone was outraged when she discovered Elemen was being paid overtime.
The complaint alleges Stone accused Elemen of “stealing” and told her it was “illegal” for her to have accepted the pay. Elemen says the actress asked for the money back, and fired her when she refused.
“Because abuses in overtime pay are common for household employees, it seems ironic that Ms. Stone initially did the right thing and paid Mrs. Elemen overtime wages, and then terminated her for accepting those same wages,” Elemen’s lawyer Solomon Gresen said in a statement.
Elemen is seeking unspecified damages, according to RadarOnline.
The actress is yet to comment on the accusations, but her spokesman Paul Bloch has a released a statement saying Elemen had “fabricated” the claims in an attempt to “cash in” on Stone’s fame.
“This is an absurd lawsuit that has been filed by a disgruntled ex-employee who is obviously looking to get money any way she can,” Bloch said.
“After she was terminated, she filed claims for alleged disability and workers compensation. Now, she is obviously looking for another opportunity to cash in.
“This is a frivolous lawsuit for absurd claims that are made-up and fabricated and Sharon Stone will be completely vindicated in court.”
