When it comes to the entertainment industry, sex sells. But even though a TV personality portrays sexuality in front of the camera, that doesn't mean she should be objectified when the cameras are off. A productive work environment always needs to be one of respect.

That's why a former employee of Black Entertainment Television Networks (BET) has filed a lawsuit against her former employer. Her lawsuit claims that she was sexually harassed by a co-worker and was later unlawfully terminated by BET.

The alleged sexual harassment incident occurred in February of 2009 while the woman was editing a video segment with a male co-worker. The woman had also hosted the segment. Therefore, the video largely contained images of her.

She claims that the man editing the video with her made lewd comments about her body, touched himself, and continuously focused on camera shots of her-rear end.

According to documents in the lawsuit, the man "grabbed and repeatedly rubbed his crotch, began to moan and said it was because he loved her butt, that she was sexy and that she did not know what he was going to do [to] her."

As bad as this was, the events to follow would make the situation even worse. The woman complained to her supervisor and was told that she would no longer have to work with the man. Unfortunately, she was paired with him again a short time later.

She then filed an official complaint with human resources, which she claims is the reason that she was let go from the company. To complicate matters, the woman was also pregnant at the time she was fired.

Whether she was fired in retaliation for her complaint or fired because she was pregnant, both practices are illegal and constitute wrongful termination. It doesn't matter if sex sells in front of the camera; a person has the right to have their mind and body respected in the workplace.

Source: Theboombox.com, "Former Employee Sues BET For Sexual Harassment," Latifah Muhhamad, 19 April 2011