Forever 21 sued for $2m by former employee over 'hidden camera'

The retail giant Forever 21 is facing a $2m lawsuit from a former employee who is suing for “extreme emotional damages" after she was allegedly filmed in an employee bathroom.

Filed in New York, the suit by a former employee, identified only as Jane Doe, accuses Forever 21 of “negligence and invasion of privacy.”

According to Doe’s claims, she was videotaped on a hidden camera in an employee restroom in 2011, and video footage of her, from said camera, has made its way onto “multiple pornographic website platforms,” which she discovered last year.

“Doe is holding Forever 21 liable for ‘negligently, recklessly, and wantonly allowing a person(s), whose identity is unknown to plaintiff, to enter the employee locker room and the employee restroom, located in the store.”

In the complaint, Doe claims neither the employee locker room nor the restroom were equipped with a security system, which would allow anyone to install a hidden camera.

The complaint also states that Forever 21 did not “keep a record of non-store employees and/or other unauthorised persons entering into the area designated as the employee locker room or the employee restroom.”

As of now, it is unclear if the Forever 21 store in question ever found the camera.

A spokesman for the company said: “Per our company policy, we are unable to comment on pending litigation, however we want to make it clear that Forever 21 takes the privacy of our team members extremely seriously. We have zero tolerance for any type of inappropriate behaviour, and we are committed to making Forever 21 a safe space for all employees, without exception. We have been actively investigating this matter, which has involved law enforcement, our legal team, and national investigation teams. We are committed to our employees and will continue to search out those responsible for this heinous act.”