Ex-Paramount executive allegedly sexual assaulted underling, harassed another co-worker: lawsuits
A former Paramount Pictures executive was accused of sexual harassment and emotional abuse by two former employees — with one of them alleging that she was repeatedly sexually assaulted by the supervisor, according to separate lawsuits.
The two women, identified as Jane Doe in the complaints, sued Patrick Smith — who resigned earlier this year as senior vice president of worldwide print production in the studio’s marketing department following an investigation by the company into his alleged misconduct — along with the movie studio and parent company Paramount Global.
🎬 Get Free Netflix Logins
Claim your free working Netflix accounts for streaming in HD! Limited slots available for active users only.
- No subscription required
- Works on mobile, PC & smart TV
- Updated login details daily
Smith was the direct supervisor for both women, who worked at Paramount Pictures as well as XYi Design, a vendor used by the studio, according to the lawsuits filed earlier this month and reported by The Hollywood Reporter and Variety.
“It is our understanding that Paramount allowed Patrick Smith to resign, rather than firing him, after he was asked not to work in the office during the investigation,” Eugene “Chip” Matthews, a lawyer representing one of the Jane Does, told Variety.
“We believe that allowing him to resign left his employment record ‘unblemished’ and allowed him to seek any retirement or benefits he may have coming to him.”
Matthews’ client claimed the sexual assaults by Smith began in 2016 — when she was 24 and “fresh out of college, according to the complaint filed on July 14 in California state court. Smith locked her in his car, “shoved his hand between her legs” and molested her, the complaint alleged.
Two years later, Smith allegedly pulled her into secluded spots on the studio lot for sex acts, and later sodomized her, according to the lawsuit.
At around the time of the alleged 2018 incident, the woman was interviewed by human resources about Smith’s behavior after another company employee came forward with complaints, the complaint alleged.
According to the lawsuit, Smith told the woman that he was contacted by HR and asked if they wanted him to “take care of it” — which the plaintiff claims was a thinly veiled suggestion that the employee who complained would be fired.
She left Paramount Pictures in 2022.
The other accuser, in a lawsuit filed on July 9, says she worked at Paramount from 2017 to 2019 before being directed to work directly for the same ad agency as the other Jane Doe.
While there, she alleges that Smith regularly engaged in “predatory behavior.”
According to the complaint, Smith repeatedly referenced sexual acts and made advances toward her, including one instance in which he demanded that she join him at a conference in Nevada and suggested that they would have sex there.
After his advances were rebuffed, Smith allegedly retaliated by orchestrating a significant demotion of the account handled by the accuser’s ad agency despite the company being one of the most competitive vendors due to its pricing, the lawsuit claims.
The July 9 lawsuit claims Paramount ignored several complaints of sexual misconduct by Smith, who has allegedly been terminated from other executive-level positions at other entertainment companies due to prior incidents of sexual harassment and lorded promises of promotions over employees.
The alleged harassment also wasn’t targeted solely at the accuser, according to the complaint.
“Smith repeatedly made inappropriate and unwarranted remarks about female colleagues, openly displaying a disregard for professionalism and respect,” Byron Purcell, a lawyer for the woman, alleged in the lawsuit.
On one occasion, he allegedly said of another employee, “She’s older, so there’s probably something going on with her hormones. She’s acting crazy.”
Both lawsuits are seeking unspecified damages.
The Post has sought comment from Smith, Paramount Global, Purcell and Matthews.
Let’s be honest—no matter how stressful the day gets, a good viral video can instantly lift your mood. Whether it’s a funny pet doing something silly, a heartwarming moment between strangers, or a wild dance challenge, viral videos are what keep the internet fun and alive.