“Days of our Lives” fans now know why 25 year vet Arianne Zucker left the show in 2017. (She returned in 2018.)
Zucker alleges that now former executive producer Albert Alarr was sexually harassing her — and other actors — for years. Alarr was finally fired last August.
This may also explain why the turnover among actresses at “Days” — which is now on Peacock — has been so high. Characters are written in and out of storylines without much notice or reason. But this could be the reason.
Zucker will have a press conference tomorrow, Thursday, at 2pm Eastern with her attorney to take questions and discuss the complaint.
Zucker’s lawyer Anahita Sedaghatfar says a statement concerning Corday Productions: “Ms. Zucker did what we tell all women who experience harassment to do, and that is to report it. Ms. Zucker did just that and was the voice for other women who were too scared to come forward. “Rather than condone her bravery, Ms. Zucker alleges that Corday retaliated against her and because she spoke out she has lost a job she was devoted to for two decades. As part of this lawsuit we will seek to ensure that Corday provides sexual harassment training to its employees and hires an intimacy coordinator to be on set for sex scenes.”
Ken Corday, who owns the show his parents created in 1965, hasn’t made a comment yet. According to reports when Alarr was fired last summer, Corday had turned over the running of the show some time ago and may have ignored repeated complaints.
For Zucker to file the suit while still appearing on the show speaks volumes. You may recall a separate incident that involved the actress. She was the one Donald Trump and Billy Bush were caught on tape disparaging in a famous “Access Hollywood” video. Zucker probably has just had enough of all these people. Who can blame her? But this is what so many actresses in Hollywood go through on a regular basis.
Zucker alleges in the complaint that Alarr’s behavior started from the moment he was on the show. (Since he was fired, his wife and son still work there.)
From the complaint:
“…he [Alarr] repeatedly subjected Plaintiff and other employees to severe and pervasive harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment, based upon their female gender.”
“That Alarr engaged in this illegal behavior was well known to Defendants Corday and Ken Corday and to the HR department of Sony Pictures Television (the distributor of Days of Our Lives) for years. Indeed, Alarr has been accused by numerous individuals of making sexually charged inappropriate and gender hostile remarks, and of bullying and intimidating fem ale employees. Alarr has been accused of groping female members of the cast, and in at least one instance, forcibly kissing an actress against her will. Many prominent actresses that worked under Alarr have spoken publicly about Alarr’s misconduct dating back for years, and how their complaints to Defendants Corday and Ken Corday fell upon deaf ears.”
More:
Alarr would frequently grab and tightly hug Plaintiff, purposely pushing her breasts onto his chest, while moaning “Oh Ari!” Alarr’s unwelcome physical touching made Plaintiff feel offended,
uncomfortable, humiliated and intimidated. Indeed, on many occasions, Alarr forcefully touched Plaintiff without her consent during dry blocking of scenes. Alarr would put his hands on Plaintiff’s waist, with his thumbs placed just above her vagina, and move her around, all the while smirking and grinning in a sexual manner, making Plaintiff extremely uncomfortable and violated.”
There’s more, and it just gets worse. It wasn’t just the sexual misconduct. Zucker, who is Jewish, claims Alarr allowed antisemitic comments:
“…an actress on the show made anti-Semitic remarks against Jews (such as the Ukraine war was about getting rid of the “dirty Jews”). Alarr was present when these comments were made, and rather than protest or report this, he began to laugh, implying he agreed with the horrendous comments. Alarr was well aware that Plaintiff is one of three Jewish people on the show.”
If anyone reading this knows more about Alarr, email me in confidence at showbiz411@gmail.com.
