A former producer’s lawsuit against Inside Edition accuses the top-rated syndicated newsmagazine of antisemitic harassment, slurs targeting multiple groups, and staging explosive demonstrations to amplify on-air drama, thrusting the long-running program into questions of workplace culture and journalistic standards.
What Sparked the Case
Joshua Bernstein joined Inside Edition in 2019 and worked there for five years. He claims he repeatedly reported discriminatory behavior and editorial issues to supervisors, but received no response. In 2023, Bernstein suffered a medical episode. He was fired about a year later while on medical leave. The lawsuit, filed in December 2025 in New York, alleges the dismissal was retaliation for his complaints, capping years of mistreatment at the show’s production offices.
Antisemitic and Other Slurs Alleged
Bernstein’s complaint describes repeated offensive language from senior staff. He alleges former chief investigative correspondent Lisa Guerrero called him a “whiny Jew” and questioned his marriage to a Muslim woman and prior work for Al Jazeera. Executive producer Charles Lachman faces accusations of anti-Muslim and anti-Black remarks, including comparing a hijab-wearing woman to a security threat. The suit also claims homophobic comments permeated the workplace.
Staged Explosions Claimed
The filing extends to accusations of news distortion. Bernstein alleges producers rigged fireworks, gas grills, and e-bike batteries to ignite or explode during consumer-safety segments. These manipulations, he says, exaggerated real-world dangers to create viewer drama, crossing from reporting into spectacle. One incident involved a tampered e-bike battery, after which a senior producer allegedly instructed Bernstein to stay silent and avoid lawyers, framing it as an effort to suppress concerns.
Corporate Response and Defendants
The lawsuit targets Paramount Global and CBS Media Ventures alongside individuals. Bernstein’s lawyers argue management enabled a toxic culture and questionable practices. CBS Media Ventures denies the claims as unsubstantiated and fabricated. The company states it conducted an outside investigation after an initial claim letter and found no supporting evidence. Executives affirm their dedication to a safe workplace and intend to defend vigorously in court.
Longevity and Broader Stakes
Inside Edition, airing since 1989 in its 38th season, draws over three million viewers weekly across hundreds of stations. It specializes in true crime, celebrities, and consumer probes that shape public views on product safety. Lachman has led as executive producer since 1998; Guerrero left in mid-2025 after 19 years. The case, entering discovery, could unearth emails, footage, and testimony from 2019 to 2024, testing if issues were isolated or entrenched. Amid industry reckonings on newsroom conduct post-#MeToo, the suit blends harassment claims with integrity questions, potentially affecting advertisers wary of ethical risks, station ties, and audience faith in dramatic footage. Whatever the outcome, it spotlights vulnerabilities in high-stakes media production, where viewer trust and corporate oversight hang in balance.
Sources:
“‘Inside Edition’ Execs and Talent Made Racist, Sexist, Antisemitic, and Anti-Muslim Comments, Former Producer Says in a New Lawsuit.” Business Insider, 5 Jan 2026.
“‘Inside Edition’ Execs and Talent Made Racist, Sexist, Antisemitic, and Anti-Muslim Comments, Lawsuit Claims.” Yahoo News, 6 Jan 2026.
“January 7, 2026 – Today in Islamophobia.” Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University, 7 Jan 2026.
“Inside Edition.” Wikipedia, accessed Jan 2026.