Insane Clown Posse Sued Over Alleged Harassment

By Aditi Mukherji, JD on September 20, 2013 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

The Detroit-based rap duo Insane Clown Posse has been sued by their former publicist and lawyer who is alleging she was sexually harassed and asked to perform illegal acts.

Andrea Pellegrini, 32, claims she was wrongfully terminated after reporting the alleged abuse to higher-ups at ICP's record label, Psychopathic Records.

The alleged abuse entails dildos, vaginal devices, and illegal automatic firearms...

Sexual Harassment Laws

Sexual harassment can be any form of unwelcome conduct or communication of a sexual nature or based on gender.

Both state and federal laws protect employees from sexual harassment at work. While Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the base level for sexual harassment claims, states have sexual harassment laws which may be stricter.

Michigan's sexual harassment law is similar to Title VII and recognizes two types of sexual harassment: "quid pro quo" harassment and hostile work environment. In this case, Pellegrini is alleging a hostile work environment.

Hostile Work Environment

A hostile work environment is created when severe or pervasive offensive behavior substantially interferes with a person's employment.

It could entail a single extremely offensive incident, or even an ongoing pattern of relatively minor incidents that "add up" to harassment.

Here, Pellegrini is alleging pretty insane clown posse instances of harassment that would likely rise to the level of a hostile work environment. According to TMZ:

  • Dirty Dan, a Psychopathic Records employee, told Pellegrini he had a "fat c**k" and that "he'd like to f**k her."
  • After becoming newly single, Dirty Dan got Pelligrini a "clear dildo" and told her she'd need it because she's single.
  • Dirty Dan gifted two other women in the office with "vagina tighteners."
  • At the Gathering of the Juggalos, Pelligrini wasn't allowed to use private bathrooms and was forced to use shared restrooms "full of naked male strangers."

Ah, Dirty Dan, what a charmer! On the non-sexual front, she was asked to get illegal automatic weapons for a photo shoot.

Sexual Harassment Liability

In order for the ICP and Psychopathic Records to be legally responsible for stopping the harassment, they need to have:

  1. known about the harassment and
  2. known that it was unwelcome.

It's likely Pellegrini covered her bases on that front since she lodged a complaint with the honchos at Psychopathic Records.

Pellegrini also knew that getting fired for reporting sexual harassment is grounds for a wrongful termination claim.

She is a lawyer, after all.

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