Dr. Phil’s former publicist alleges anti-gay discrimination

Jerry Sharell, a former longtime publicist for Phil McGraw, has filed a lawsuit alleging discrimination and wrongful termination by the celebrity psychologist and Envoy Media, McGraw’s North Texas-based media startup. Sharell was told in late March that his position with the company was being placed on “hiatus” for financial reasons, according to the suit. But Sharell, who is gay, is alleging that his sexual orientation was in fact “a substantial motivating reason” behind his loss of employment. “Jeez, he’s gayer than a fruit basket and not listening,” the lawsuit states McGraw said at one point, during an interaction where Sharell...