Arianne Zucker (Nicole Walker) has filed a lawsuit stemming from last year's highly publicized ouster of Albert Alarr as Days of our Lives' co-executive producer.
As first reported by TMZ, Zucker has filed her lawsuit against Corday Productions Inc., which produces DAYS, as well as its executive producer, Ken Corday, and Alarr.
Zucker alleges "harassment, discrimination, retaliation, negligent hiring and supervision, and wrongful termination among other claims."
Zucker contends that she met with the HR department of Sony, the distributor of Days of our Lives, several times between March 2023 and June 2023 to bring to their attention claims of misconduct against Alarr. Those claims involved Alarr reportedly making sexually suggestive comments on set involving his desire to "switch positions" with the actress' male co-stars.
Nearly 40 DAYS performers -- mostly female -- were interviewed over a nine-week period about unwanted physical contact by Alarr, including groping and forceful kissing. Those interviewed alleged that Alarr had made DAYS a toxic workplace.
At the conclusion of the investigation, an independent investigator produced a report with its findings. During the investigation, however, Alarr continued working on the show and Zucker asserts that the situation made her feel "violated and intimidated."
Alarr was subsequently fired in August 2023, but not before the show halted production.
While the claims of harassment date back to the summer, the wrongful termination claim caught many by surprise.
Zucker claims that in October 2023, with her contract set to expire in January 2024, she began to negotiate a new deal with DAYS. The actress alleges that Corday Productions refused to negotiate in "good faith," and as a result, the two sides were unable to come to an agreement, and Zucker's contract with DAYS expired. As a result, Zucker was "essentially... fired" from the show.
Zucker joined Days of our Lives in February 1998. She has received three Daytime Emmy nominations: Outstanding Supporting Actress nominations in 2010 and 2013, and a 2020 nod for Outstanding Lead Actress. Due to DAYS' production schedule, Zucker will continue to appear on the show through the middle of the year.
In a statement, DAYS responded to Zucker's lawsuit by saying, "The allegations in Ms. Zucker's lawsuit are without merit. Corday Productions offered to renew Ms. Zucker's contract including offering her a pay increase. Rejecting Ms. Zucker's counteroffer does not constitute retaliation. Complaints about Mr. Alarr's on-set behavior were promptly investigated. Corday Productions fully cooperated with the impartial investigation and subsequently terminated Mr. Alarr."
UPDATE (February 8, 2024): Arianne Zucker held a press conference to discuss her lawsuit. For coverage of that portion of the story, please continue reading here.
This article has been modified to clarify that Sony Pictures Entertainment is the distributor of Days of our Lives
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