"The Notebook" Author Nicholas Sparks Accused of Bigotry - East Idaho News
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“The Notebook” Author Nicholas Sparks Accused of Bigotry

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GETTY 10314 NicholasSparks?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1412354596515Vera Anderson/WireImage(NEW YORK) — Nicholas Sparks, the author who penned The Notebook and A Walk to Remember, is being sued by a former CEO of his North Carolina private school for allegedly holding the man captive in a room while assaulting and threatening him.

According to court papers, Sparks called CEO Saul Hillel Benjamin to a conference room at the Epiphany School of Global Studies in November 2013 to fire him.

The suit claim “Sparks and others physically intimidated, threatened and assaulted Mr. Benjamin while keeping him trapped in a room for hours without even access to a bathroom,” bringing Benjamin to tears.

Sparks, according to court documents, told Benjamin he brought “disrepute to Epiphany” for mingling with African-Americans at a public event, and explained the school’s lack of diversity was because “black students are too poor and can’t do the academic work.”

The suit further claims that when Benjamin tried to inject diversity into the school, Sparks “ridiculed” his efforts — and condoned bullying of several homosexual students while referring to them as the “gay club.”

The lawsuit also alleges that Sparks and members of the school’s board repeatedly showed contempt for Benjamin’s Jewish heritage and forced him to recite his religious beliefs before the entire student body and parents who dished out insults.

Sparks’ entertainment attorney, Scott Schwimer, said in a statement to the New York Post: “As a gay, Jewish man who has represented Nick for almost 20 years I find these allegations completely ludicrous and offensive.”

Theresa Sprain, an attorney handling the matter for Sparks, also told the newspaper, “We deny these allegations as presented in the complaint. We will vigorously defend this matter and look forward to pursuing any available remedies.”


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