McDonald's Settles $10B Discrimination Lawsuit Brought by Byron Allen's Media Company
McDonald's reached a settlement in the $10 billion lawsuit brought by Byron Allen's Allen Entertainment Studios, in which the media mogul accused the fast food company of discriminating against Black-owned media companies.
Allen's companies and McDonald's released a joint statement on Friday, revealing that they'd come to 'an agreement to settle pending litigation between them.' At the tailend of last year, U.S. District Judge Fernando Olguin found that McDonald's may have violated federal and state civil rights laws by keeping a separate advertising tier for companies who create content target toward Black audiences.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
Byron Allen Puts His Local TV Stations Up for Sale
Byron Allen's 'Comics Unleashed' Gets the Post-Colbert Time Slot on CBS - Again
Byron Allen's $10B Discrimination Lawsuit Against McDonald's Over Ad Spend to Go to Trial
'We are pleased to find a resolution that maintains our business relationship,' Allen's Entertainment Studios and The Weather Channel said in a statement. 'During the course of this litigation, many of our preconceptions have been clarified, and we acknowledge McDonald's commitment to investing in Black-owned media properties and increasing access to opportunity. Our differences are behind us, and we look forward to working together.'
The news comes after McDonald's was set to go to trial for the lawsuit. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Later in the release, it was noted that 'The parties reached a confidential commercial agreement whereby McDonald's will continue to purchase advertising from ESN in a manner that aligns with its advertising strategy and commercial objectives and ESN will dismiss its lawsuit against McDonald's in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.' Additionally, they noted, 'Under the terms of the agreement, which are confidential, McDonald's is not admitting any wrongdoing, and the ads sold will, as per all such commercial deals, be priced at market value.
'We are pleased that Mr. Allen has come to appreciate McDonald's unwavering commitment to inclusion, and has agreed to refocus his energies on a mutually beneficial commercial arrangement that is consistent with other McDonald's supplier relationships,' McDonald's USA, LLC said. 'Our company's unique three-legged stool model relies on mutual respect, and we look forward to ESN's contributions to the betterment of our system.'
Best of The Hollywood Reporter
How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started
Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023
Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
3 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Iconic fast-food burger chain announces late-night hours expansion
Most can't deny that a greasy burger, salty fries, and bubbly Coke always taste better late at night. When you stay up all night binge-watching an entire Netflix series and fast-food cravings start to get loud, driving to the nearest location is the only way to satisfy them. This is a regular event for many college students and night owls. However, all good things come to an end, and it's not because some decided to grow up and become more health-conscious. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Unfortunately, Covid entered the picture, taking away nearly all options for late-night munchies by forcing food chains to reduce their hours of operation. Related: McDonald's menu adds new happy meal fans will love This caused many businesses to close temporarily for multiple months, and others to completely shut down locations because they couldn't sustain the massive profit loss. Image source: Angerer/Getty Images Years have passed since the pandemic's peak, and major food chains have slowly begun extending their hours of operation once again. IHOP (DIN) , Denny's (DENN) , Jack in the Box (JACK) , and Whataburger are returning to their old 24/7 routines, while others continue to expand their hours, like McDonald's (MCD) , which recently extended its hours to stay open until midnight or later at many locations nationwide. Related: Taco Bell announces new menu items to battle McDonald's White Castle is joining the late-night hours trend by revealing that 91% of its locations are now open until 1 a.m. or later, and 72% run 24/7. This marks the fast-food chain's highest level of late-night operating hours since 2020. "White Castle has always been there for our Cravers when it matters most - even when the clock strikes midnight and beyond," said White Castle Vice President Jamie Richardson in the announcement. "Night Castle isn't just a moment in time - it's a state of mind. Whether it's summer nights, weekend outings or just a craving that won't quit, we're proud to be the place people turn to for craveable flavor, great value, and unforgettable memories." To promote its late-night initiative, White Castle launched "Night Castle" themed merchandise, featuring apparel and accessories, which can be purchased via its online store. More Food News: Hershey creates new guilt-free candy that's a dream comboTaco Bell adds new beverages to hop on viral fast-food trendChipotle rival make surprise menu move The fast-food chain also introduced new offers exclusively available to its Craver Nation Rewards members, which are tailored to late-night cravings. The new late-night offers include: The $6 Cheesy Cravings Meal - Four cheese sliders, three cheese sticks, a small fry, and a small soft drink.$5 off in-app delivery orders. Members can redeem these offers from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. through September 7 at all participating locations nationwide when ordering via the White Castle app. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Lynn Hamilton, 'Sanford and Son\
Lynn Hamilton, an actress known for her roles on "Sanford and Son" and "The Waltons," has died. She was 95. Hamilton's death was confirmed in a statement on Facebook and Instagram from her former manager and publicist, Rev. Calvin Carson, who said that the actress died on June 19 "surrounded by her grandchildren, loved ones and caregivers." "With profound gratitude and admiration, we celebrate the extraordinary life of iconic actress Alzenia 'Lynn' Hamilton-Jenkins, whose remarkable legacy continues to uplift and inspire," Carson said. "Her illustrious career, spanning over five decades, has left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment, motivating audiences across the globe through her work as a model, stage, film, and television actress." Hamilton starred as nurse Donna Harris, girlfriend of Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx), on the classic sitcom "Sanford and Son" beginning in 1972. The influential show, which aired on NBC, also starred Demond Wilson and LaWanda Page. Hamilton also portrayed Verdie on the CBS drama "The Waltons," beginning in 1973. She reprised the role in the television movies "A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion" and "A Walton Easter." 'Sanford and Son': Looking back at the 'double-edged' Black sitcom pioneer 50 years later The actress made her on-screen debut in the 1958 John Cassavetes film "Shadows," and throughout her career, she appeared on shows like "Dangerous Women," "Room 222," "Mannix," "Gunsmoke," "Hawaii Five-O," "Good Times," "Starsky and Hutch," "The Rockford Files" and "Roots: The Next Generation." She also starred on the NBC soap opera "Generations." On the film side, Hamilton had roles in movies like "Lady Sings the Blues," starring Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams, and "Buck and the Preacher," starring Sidney Poitier. Hamilton continued to act into the 2000s with roles on "NYPD Blue," "The Practice" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Nathaniel Taylor, best known as Rollo on 'Sanford and Son,' dies at 80 Hamilton was married to writer Frank Jenkins until his death in 2014. They worked together on theater productions such as "Nobody" and "The Bert Williams Story," according to Carson, who said that their "partnership was a shining example of creativity, love, and dedication."
Business of Fashion
4 hours ago
- Business of Fashion
This Week: Nike's Earnings and Jonathan Anderson's Dior Debut
We're all economics nerds in a post-Liberation Day world, so in a sense, this week's big reveal will be the Conference Board's monthly gauge of US consumer confidence, due out Tuesday. That survey will only tell us something about whether people are shopping, however. To find out what they'll be buying, we have Nike and Dior. Nike's Multifaceted Turnaround What's Happening: Nike reports fourth-quarter and full-year results on June 26. Analysts have an average forecast for sales to drop 15 percent for the quarter and 11 percent for the year, along with a sharp contraction in profits. Eye on the Horizon: Most have written off Nike's fiscal 2025, and will be instead watching for whether the sportswear giant releases guidance for the coming year, along with CEO Elliott Hill's outlook on the earnings call Thursday afternoon. FOMO: Nike watchers assume it's only a matter of time before the brand enters a new golden age, or at least halts its decline. Exactly when that will happen is the billion-dollar question; in a research note, UBS said Nike's stock may even be priced artificially high because investors worry they'll mistime the rebound (remarkable, given shares are trading close to an eight-year low). That dynamic provides Nike leadership a bit of breathing room to implement their plans, though it also increases the consequences if they push out their turnaround timeline. ADVERTISEMENT About Those Plans…: Nike learned the hard way why you don't put all your eggs in one basket, after its retro sneaker boom went bust. Along with marking down holdover Dunks, Nike is seeding numerous potential comeback efforts, including its (yes, retro) Vomero running shoe, the soccer cleat-inspired Cryoshots and reviving women's basketball sneakers with a signature shoe from the WNBA's A'ja Wilson. And of course there's NikeSkims, the new lifestyle sub-brand with Kim Kardashian. Even Nike-owned Converse is pitching in with a much talked about (though still unreleased) sneaker with basketball star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Patience Please: Any or all of these efforts could be the next great Nike franchise, but it will take years of meticulous execution to pull off. We'll find out Thursday if the company is confident enough in its plans to put a date on its return to form. A Big Debut at Dior Jonathan Anderson speaking at BoF Voices in 2023. (Getty Images) What's Happening: Jonathan Anderson makes his much-anticipated Dior debut with a men's show in Paris on June 27, the first and perhaps the biggest in a series of major designer debuts slated for the coming months. A Long Time Coming: Anderson was named creative director of Dior Men's in April, though his long-rumoured appointment to replace Maria Grazia Chiuri wasn't made official until earlier this month. Debuting with a men's show, rather than couture or women's, could be seen as a 'soft launch,' though given the many months of anticipation and the stakes, his collection won't lack for attention. Needing a Spark: The luxury sector is mired in its worst downturn in years. LVMH's brands, which initially defied the trend, are now struggling to keep customers engaged just like everyone else (though declines, while significant, are nowhere near the carnage at Gucci or Burberry). Creative directors can only do so much, but having the right vision and products makes the changes to supply chains and pricing architecture needed to revive the industry's prospects go down easier. The Week Ahead wants to hear from you! Send tips, suggestions, complaints and compliments to
