A woman who says that she worked as the body double for Ruth Wilson on the Showtime series “The Affair” is suing the cable outlet, claiming she suffered sexual harassment and was canned from her job after complaining about it.
In the lawsuit, Ashlynn Alexander — who says that she served as Wilson’s body double from October 2013 until September 2015 — says that an assistant director on the show referred to her as “Alison Sexytime Double” on a call sheet, an apparent reference to Wilson’s character, Alison Bailey.
Typically, the suit says, Alexander would be referred to as “Alison Body Double.”
“Ms. Alexander was humiliated. She takes her career seriously and knew that everyone working on ‘The Affair’ read the call sheet and would see her reduced to a sexual object,” the lawsuit, filed Thursday in federal court in New York, reads.
“Ms. Alexander was singled out and demeaned in front of everyone she worked with on set,” it continued.
According to Alexander, when she confronted him [the assistant director] about the reference, he “admitted that his language on the call sheet was inappropriate and then belittled Ms. Alexander, stating that she could be easily replaced.”
Less than a week later, in September 2015, that’s what happened, the suit alleges, as Alexander was sacked.
The suit claims that Alexander was told her she was let go because “she did not have a good hair match with Wilson and ‘The Affair’ was looking for someone else to fill her former role” — which doesn’t make sense, according to the suit, she “had been wearing a wig for the duration of her work as Wilson’s body double, without issue.”
As a result of her alleged treatment, the lawsuit says, Alexander “became lethargic,withdrawn and depressed.”
“It is difficult for Ms. Alexander to approach potential jobs with the same enthusiasm and ambition. Ms. Alexander is afraid of the next possible situation where she will be harassed and humiliated,” the suit reads. “Ms. Alexander now suffers from a high level of anxiety which has negatively influenced the level of confidence that she has in her ability to perform her job.”
In addition to Showtime Pictures Development Company, Alexander is suing Possible Productions and the assistant director.
Alleging retaliation and discrimination, the suit seeks unspecified damages.
Showtime declined comment on the lawsuit when contacted by TheWrap.
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.