Famous performer and artist Tyrese Gibson has commenced a legal proceeding against The Home Depot by submitting a lawsuit demanding $1 million in reparations due to accusations of racial bias. Gibson, along with Eric Mora and Manuel Hernandez, the other two complainants, asserted that they encountered unequal treatment and racially motivated profiling as customers while visiting The Home Depot’s store in West Hills, California.
The lawsuit, recently obtained by PEOPLE, was officially filed on August 9. The court documents detail an incident that transpired in February, where Gibson and his associates visited the home improvement retailer. As described in the lawsuit, all three individuals were present for shopping, and the presence of the Fast & Furious franchise star caught the attention of fans in the store. Following this, Gibson entrusted the responsibility to Mora and Hernandez, recognized individuals often engaged in construction work alongside him. He handed over his credit card to facilitate the payment for the items, all the while staying in the car.
As indicated in the court documents, Gibson communicated his choice to the cashier, specifying that his associates would finalize the purchase using his card. Regrettably, the cashier allegedly declined to complete the transaction, even after Gibson returned to the store.. This alleged refusal by the cashier to complete the purchase transaction became a focal point of the lawsuit, with Gibson and the other plaintiffs asserting that it was a result of racial profiling.
The lawsuit is seeking substantial compensation, with all three plaintiffs collectively seeking over $1 million in damages. This amount is intended to encompass the expenses Gibson claims to have incurred at various Home Depot locations throughout his lifetimeMoreover, the plaintiffs are actively pursuing punitive damages and are also seeking a declaratory judgment to underline how The Home Depot’s actions stand in opposition to the provisions of California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act.
The legal action taken by Tyrese Gibson against The Home Depot sheds light on the broader issues of racial profiling and discrimination that continue to persist in various aspects of society. As high-profile cases like this bring attention to the challenges faced by individuals due to their race, it further underscores the importance of addressing these issues through the legal system and promoting equal treatment for all members of society.
