Earlier this week, chairman and CEO of BET Networks Debra Lee, announced in a memo that their President of Programming Stephen Hill would be leaving his position at the company, after 18 years.
“I want to let you know that Stephen Hill, President of Programming for BET Networks has decided to step down from his role,” Lee wrote in the memo to the BET Team, just before announcing that Connie Orlando would serve as a replacement for Hill. As she continued, she announced an additional departure, writing “Additionally, Zola Mashariki, EVP, and Head of Original Programming, will also be departing with the network.”
However, since then, the latter has been refuted, as Mashariki has revealed that she has left the company, but not for good. In a note to BET staff obtained by Deadline, Mashariki revealed that she is on medical leave and by law, her job is protected.
“As many of you know,” she wrote. “I was diagnosed with breast cancer in December and have been out of the office and on medical leave since my first surgery on February 6. I just had another surgery last week, and it is a painful recovery for me. It has also been hard on my children.”
“I heard yesterday that Stephen was leaving BET. I’m concerned that there was a reference to me, as Stephen’s departure is a separate issue from my status at the company,” Mashariki said.
“Here are the facts,” she continued. “I am on medical leave. My job is protected by the Family Medical Leave Act and related statutes (FMLA), and I have a contract in place. Viacom/BET are aware that I am scheduled to return on April 11 and that my medical leave may need to be extended depending on the progress of my recovery.”
“Bob Bakish has said our company values should be honesty, empathy, and bravery. I agree with this wholeheartedly, and our team has embodied this over the two years we have worked together,” she added. “Without question, including me in Stephen’s departure announcement is not in keeping with those values,” she wrote.
Despite Mashariki’s response, BET confirmed that the EVP was, in fact, a former employee.
“These claims misrepresent the facts and are without merit. We strongly deny any allegation of wrongdoing,” the Network said in a statement, as sources revealed Mashariki had been fired prior to her medical leave because of performance issues, Deadline reports.
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