Woman sues over sitcom writers' jokes

A woman is taking legal action against the makers of Friends - because she didn't like the writers' jokes.

Amaani Lyle says she was sexually and racially harassed while working as an assistant on the Warner Bros sitcom.

Her case was previously thrown out of Los Angeles County Superior Court in 2002, but it has now been reinstated on appeal.

Lyle said three writers constantly joked about women and sex, and often ridiculed black people, when she worked with them in 1999.

When the case was first heard, the defendants argued that vulgar comments, gestures and jokes were a regular part of creating a comedy show about sexually active young people.

But the appeals court did not reinstate Lyle's entire claim - dismissing allegations that she was fired over her race and sex, and that she was targeted because she complained about the dearth of black characters on the show.

Published: 23 Apr 2004