Dr. Phil Sued by Former Publicist Over Discrimination

Jerry Sharell, Dr. Phil McGraw’s longtime publicist, alleges in a Los Angeles Superior Court filing that he was discriminated against and wrongfully terminated after joining Merit Street Media, with his sexual orientation identified as a key factor in his treatment. The complaint asserts he was excluded from the Texas relocation of staff and later placed on hiatus, while others were not, and claims a pay cut and loss of benefits when his role shifted to independent-contractor status. Sharell recounts hostile remarks, including an incident where a coworker allegedly said, “There’s too many of THEM around here. And it’s evil,” and he says McGraw told him he was staying in California because he was “Hollywood.” He also describes a restructuring that coincided with the bankruptcy and formation of Envoy Media, with the new arrangement allegedly disadvantaging him compared to peers. McGraw’s representatives deny the allegations, stating Sharell was not fired for his sexual orientation and that the hiatus and changes followed industry practice and company restructuring. The lawsuits have been reported by multiple outlets, highlighting a broader legal dispute surrounding McGraw’s media ventures and treatment of staffers during and after the transition to Merit Street Media and Envoy Media.