Ed Brubaker, showrunner of Amazon MGM Studios’ upcoming crime drama Criminal, has been sued by a former production assistant who accuses him and the production companies of allowing a hostile work environment marked by alleged sexual and racial harassment, religious discrimination, assault and battery.
Ijaaz Noohu is seeking unspecified damages in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in California state court against Amazon MGM Studios and Big Indie Pictures, the company that hired him to work on Criminal.
Among the most serious allegations in the complaint is that Brubaker allegedly pointed a functioning firearm at Noohu’s face and pulled the trigger. The complaint said the incident was witnessed by a senior producer but did not provide further details about what happened with the firearm.
Noohu, a Sri Lankan American filmmaker, was hired by Big Indie in February 2023 to work as a production assistant on Criminal, which is based on Brubaker’s interconnected crime stories.
The lawsuit alleges that Brubaker subsequently subjected Noohu to “repeated and pervasive” sexual harassment, including comments about running his hands through Noohu’s hair, jokes about rape and rubbing Noohu’s back.
Noohu also alleges that Brubaker made demeaning comments and stereotypes about his background, including references to curry, the “Tiger Mom” stereotype, Never Have I Ever and his presumed ability in mathematics.
According to the complaint, Noohu was also repeatedly asked whether he supported Hamas.
The lawsuit alleges that the alleged misconduct culminated in the firearm incident, which it says was witnessed by a senior producer who ultimately took no action.
“That a supervisor with authority over the entire production would commit such an act and that it would go unchecked illustrates the culture of impunity that pervaded the criminal production,” Noohu’s lawyer, Fahim Rahman, wrote in the complaint.
The complaint further alleges that Noohu faced retaliation after seeking a promotion.
According to the lawsuit, his exit date was moved forward and he was subsequently barred from the set after challenging the alleged misconduct.
His employment ended in September 2024, the complaint states, adding that he was not credited on the production.
The lawsuit also accuses Amazon MGM and Big Indie of failing to investigate alleged harassment and discrimination that it says occurred openly and was witnessed by several people, including senior producers.
The complaint specifically names executive producer Phillip Barnett, alleging that he instructed others not to document complaints and repeatedly responded to allegations by saying, “Don’t say that in front of me,” and, “La la, I’m not hearing that.”
Amazon MGM declined to comment, while Big Indie did not respond to a request for comment. Brubaker also did not respond to a request for comment.
Amazon MGM Studios ordered Criminal to series in 2024, making it Brubaker’s first television project as showrunner.
Brubaker’s television credits include Westworld, Too Old to Die Young and Batman: Caped Crusader. He is also a prominent comic-book writer whose work includes Batman, Catwoman and Captain America, and he co-created the Winter Soldier character for Marvel.
The allegations in the lawsuit have not been proven in court.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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