Lawsuit Alleges Nicholas Sparks is a Racist, Homophobic Anti-Semite

By Night Editor  |  October 3, 2014 | 12:05am

A former headmaster at a school started by Nicholas Sparks filed a lawsuit alleging the bestselling author of some pretty disturbing things.

Saul Benjamin was fired in 2013 as head of the Epiphany School of Global Studies, a Christian school in North Carolina which was founded by Sparks. Benjamin is suing for discrimination, claiming the author is a bigot who ultimately forced him out of the job for trying to encourage diversity. Via The Guardian:

The 47-page complaint is filled with a range of accusations against Sparks, including that he endorsed a group of students who attempted to enact a “homo-caust” against a group of gay students and that he told people the plaintiff, Saul Benjamin, had Alzheimer’s.
Benjamin, the former head of Sparks’ Epiphany School of Global Studies in North Carolina, said in the complaint that the “greatest fiction” Sparks created was that he is a proponent of diversity and inclusiveness.

The lawsuit states Benjamin was directed to “engage only in private and less visible contact with African Americans.” Benjamin alleges his efforts to diversify the school enraged Sparks, who once reportedly told him “black students are too poor and can’t do the academic work.” According to the lawsuit, Benjamin was once forced to stand in front of students and justify his Jewish faith, while parents lobbed insults at him.

A lawyer for the author responded to TMZ about the lawsuit on Thursday:

Scott Schwimer, Sparks’ entertainment lawyer, tells TMZ, “As a gay, Jewish man who has represented Nick for almost 20 years I find these allegations completely ludicrous and offensive.” Sparks’ lawyer for this case, Theresa Sprain, adds, “We deny these allegations.”

According to the Guardian, Benjamin is also suing the school, the Nicholas Sparks Foundation, the Epiphany school and Missy Blackerby, Tracy Lorentzen and Ken Gray who are members of the school’s board of trustees.

[The Guardian/TMZ]

Is Kendall Jenner going to become the next Victoria’s Secret Angel? Is there life on Mars? Can I borrow a feeling? So many unanswered questions in the great mystery of life. [Hollywood Life]

Congratulations to Ellen Pompeo and Chris Ivery! They welcomed their second child, daughter Sienna May Ivery who was delivered via surrogate. [Instagram]

Beyoncé and Jay Z looked a private home in Paris which means they are moving to France, overthrowing the government and installing a new monarchy. ALL HAIL THE NEW REIGN OF YONCÉ. [Lainey Gossip]

Jamie Dornan and Bill Murray played what I can only assume is the only game of golf I might actually care about. [Daily Record]

Portlandia‘s number one fan is Jerry Seinfeld. [Vulture]

Sorry, extreme Titanic Rose and Jack shippers. Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio did not get make romance together, ever. [Marie Claire]

They are making Rush Hour into an television show. “They” being a vast and sinister consortium of mole people aligned with underground mutants who are working to destroy humanity. [The Hollywood Reporter]

OH MY GOD Alfonso Ribeiro confirmed he will absolutely be doing “The Carlton” on Dancing With the Stars to Tom Jones’ “It’s Not Unusual.” IT’S REALLY HAPPENING, YOU GUYS. [Huffpost Celebrity]

Image via Getty.

 
Join the discussion...