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Back in May, snowboarder Shaun White was sued by a woman who said White sexually harassed her, made inappropriate comments, and once demanded she cut her hair. On Friday, her lawyers filed a new complaint in San Diego court with added details about how drummer Lena Zawaideh says White pressured her to join the band, then began harassing her—trying to control her appearance, showing her porn, and sending her sexually explicit text messages, including pictures of other men’s penises.

Zawaideh is suing White for sexual harassment, wrongful termination, wage nonpayment, and other labor code violations. Images of the text messages are included as exhibits in the new lawsuits.



Another series of text messages allegedly shows White demanding Zawaideh to change her appearance to his liking, and becoming angry when she refused:







The complaint says that immediately after the text messages about the haircut, White refused to talk to her for the entire next day. White went on to terminate pay for all band members, then reinstate the previously contracted $3,750 per month retainer for all members except Zawaideh, the complaint says. When White’s manager called to tell her that she was no longer in the band, she wasn’t a given a reason why.


The 76-page lawsuit includes other examples of harassment. It said that White once yelled out “Hey, have you seen this video?!” then showed Zawaideh a video “of a couple killing a bear and then having sex on top of it.” Another time, the complaint says White forced Zawaideh to watch a video called “Church of Fudge,” which the complaint describes as “hardcore porn involving a priest, a nun and fecal matter.” Zawaideh was 17 or 18 at the time, the complaint says, and went along with it because “she did not want to cause problems with the band or be terminated.”

There were more sexually explicit videos, according to the complaint. When shown them, Zawaideh says she would say “ew” and walk away. White knew this made her uncomfortable, the lawsuit says, but kept doing it. There were other types of harassment as well. When Zawaideh had a boyfriend, he told her, “Don’t forget to suck his balls!” There also are examples that show White’s behavior toward other people as well. The complaint says that Zawaideh once saw him tell a cab driver, “You suck dick for a living!”


A representative for White said about the text messages: “Many years ago, I exchanged texts with a friend who is now using them to craft a bogus lawsuit. There is absolutely no coincidence to the timing of her claims, and we will defend them vigorously in court.”



You can read the full complaint below or by clicking here.

