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 'Too sexy' banker files human rights complaint
Debrahlee Lorenzana, the woman who claims Citibank fired her for being “too sexy,” is taking her fight to New York's human rights division. But her former employers say it's just another attention grab.
A tearful Lorenzana held a press conference Monday to announce she had filed a human rights complaint against Citibank, alleging she was the victim of sexual discrimination at the Manhattan branch where she worked as a business banker before being fired, reportedly for being too attractive.
“When I first got my position with Citibank, I was excited. I had such high expectations. But when the sex discrimination started, I felt down and I felt disappointed,” said Lorenzana, her lawyer supportively holding her shoulder as she sobbed into the microphone.
“I was a target to them. There were days where I didn't want to go to work... Many times I had to step out of the office to cry because of the unfairness of what was going on.” The single mother, who said she kept going to work because she had to support her son, first made headlines in early June, when she told the Village Voice she was launching a lawsuit against Citibank because the company fired her for her looks.
That lawsuit is now in arbitration. The human rights complaint may lead to a separate investigation.
“I hope my complaint will lead to an investigation and a positive outcome,” she said. “I don't want what happened to me to happen to any other woman at Citibank.
She alleged her superiors forbade her from wearing turtle necks or pencil skirts and heels because they were too distracting. Other colleagues, she said, wore more revealing clothes.
"They said their body shapes were different from mine, and I drew too much attention," she told the Village Voice in early June.
The bank maintains she was fired for her poor performance and that her lawsuit and human rights complaint are just ways of getting attention.
"Unlike Ms. Lorenzana, Citibank does not intend to try this case in the media and we reiterate that her termination was based on poor performance,” said Citibank spokeswoman Natalie Riper in a statement Monday.
“Although we can't speak to her previous attention-seeking activities, her current attempts to gain personal publicity are as transparent as her legal claims. We remain confident that when all of the facts and documentation are presented, the claim will be dismissed." Others have echoed Citibank's perspective, noting that Lorenzana has been very public about her plastic surgery exploits, which include a tummy tuck, liposuction and two breast enhancements.
In a Discovery Channel documentary about cosmetic medicine, Lorenzana said: “I want to look like a Playboy Playmate.” Her lawyer has argued that Lorenzana's attractiveness, even if intentional, is no excuse for the treatment she received.
"It's like saying ... that we can't think anymore 'cause our penises are standing up — and we cannot think about you except in a sexual manner — and we can't look at you without wanting to have sexual intercourse with you. And it's up to you, gorgeous woman, to lessen your appeal so that we can focus!" Jack Tuckner told the Village Voice in early June.
At the press conference, Lorenzana dismissed the significance of her Discovery Channel appearance.
"There's nothing wrong with that," Lorenzana said. "One thing has nothing to do with the other."
(2010-06-29 / Toronto Sun )
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