Lawsuit Claims Hostile Work Environment on Amazon MGM’s “Criminal”

A California state-court complaint filed by former production assistant Ijaaz Noohu alleges that showrunner Ed Brubaker created a hostile work environment on the upcoming crime drama series Criminal. The suit lists claims of sexual and racial harassment, religious discrimination, assault and battery, and retaliation. Specific allegations include Brubaker repeatedly making unwanted comments about Noohu’s hair, back and private sex life, joking about rape, directing a “bikini barista” prank, and invoking ethnic stereotypes about curry, “Tiger Mom” and presumed mathematical ability. The complaint further states that Brubaker pointed a functional firearm at Noohu’s face and pulled the trigger, an act witnessed by a senior producer who allegedly did not intervene. After Noohu requested a promotion, the suit says his exit date was accelerated and he was barred from the set; his employment ended in September 2024 without credit on the production.

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Criminal is based on Brubaker’s Eisner-award-winning comic series and received a formal series order from Amazon MGM Studios in 2024. Brubaker, known for comic work on Marvel’s *Batman*, *Catwoman* and the “Winter Soldier” storyline, serves as the show’s first-time television showrunner. The series is produced by Big Indie Pictures, a company behind titles such as *Manchester by the Sea* and *Fallout*. Executive producer Phillip Barnett is also named in the complaint for allegedly discouraging documentation of complaints.

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Amazon MGM Studios declined to comment on the lawsuit. Big Indie Pictures did not respond to a request for comment. The complaint cites executive producer Phillip Barnett directing staff to avoid reporting alleged misconduct, with the specific instruction quoted in the Verbatim Quotes section.

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• “Don’t say that in front of me,” — Phillip Barnett, this includes executive

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If the allegations lead to a settlement or court ruling, the case could prompt tighter oversight of on-set safety protocols and harassment reporting within Amazon MGM productions. It also raises questions about how studios address complaints involving high-profile creators, potentially influencing future contractual and supervisory arrangements for similar series.

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