Meta Sued for Pregnancy, Disability, and Race Discrimination by Former Global Director
NEW YORK, NY – [May 20, 2025] – Mesidor PLLC announced the filing of a federal lawsuit on behalf of Nana A. Amissah, a seasoned Black technology executive and former Global Director at Meta Platforms, Inc., who alleges she was subjected to egregious discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination while on medical leave and six months pregnant.
The complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, details Mrs. Amissah’s meteoric rise over an eight-year tenure at Facebook and later Meta, where she held multiple high-ranking roles, including Director of Global Programs at WhatsApp and Global Director of Business & Product Equity Partnerships. Despite her contributions to company-defining initiatives, such as leading responses to the Cambridge Analytica scandal and a $5 billion FTC Consent Order, Mrs. Amissah was allegedly denied resources, excluded from key decision-making, and targeted with unlawful discrimination by her white supervisor, Vice President John Cantarella.
“Mrs. Amissah was not only the first Black woman to hold a Director position at WhatsApp, she was a visionary force in responsible innovation," said her attorney, Marjorie Mesidor. "Instead of being supported, she was isolated, sabotaged, and ultimately pushed out because she dared to speak up and take medical leave. This case underscores the structural racism and retaliation still rampant at one of the world’s most powerful tech companies."
According to the lawsuit, Mrs. Amissah began suffering severe emotional distress and was diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, and depression due to her toxic work environment. She took protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in June 2024. Despite informing Meta of her pregnancy in November 2024 and her attorney actively engaged with Meta regarding the violations and negotiating an agreement that would enable her to separate from the company, on February 10, 2025 Meta terminated her employment while on medical leave in what Meta labeled “performance-based” layoffs—a claim Mrs. Amissah asserts is pretextual and retaliatory given her strong performance trajectory.
“I devoted myself to this company. I was loyal, innovative, and results-driven for 8 years,” Mrs. Amissah shared in a statement. “But when I asked for basic fairness and dignity as a Black woman and a pregnant professional, I was met with silence, gaslighting, and ultimately, a pink slip. No one should be punished for advocating for themselves—especially not in 2025.”
Mrs. Amissah is bringing claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Section 1981, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act. She is seeking damages for lost wages, emotional harm, and punitive relief.
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