Warner Brothers Sued After Ellen DeGeneres Mocks Woman’s Name

A woman named Titi Pierce from Warner Robins, Georgia, is suing Warner Brothers over a segment Ellen DeGeneres did on her popular daytime talkshow. Pierce is a Robins Air Force Base engineer and a real-estate agent. On her February 22 show, DeGeneres showed footage of one of Pierce’s real estate signs and mispronounced her name as “titty Pierce.” As a result of the mocking, Pierce has allegedly received threats and harassment, and filed a lawsuit in District Court on Thursday.

Pierce’s name is actually pronounced “tee-tee” and is originally a Nigerian name meaning “flower.” However, DeGeneres made a series of breast-related jokes about Pierce’s name in a segment about funny signs. DeGeneres also contrasted Pierce’s real estate sign with another sign advertising the “Nipple Convalescent Home,” stating: Titty Pierce, sounds like she might have spent some time in that nipple home, I don’t know.”

The segment was broadcast in February, and then shown again on a rerun in April. It was also posted to the show’s Facebook page.

Pierce’s lawsuit claims that DeGeneres’s show showed her phone number when the sign was displayed (although it was blurred out on the version that was posted to Facebook.) As a result of the show, Pierce claims to have received a number of harassing and mocking phone calls. In response her office posted on Facebook:

Loving that our own Titi Pierce of CBRF (Coldwell Banker Robbins & Free) was on the Ellen DeGeneres show, but wish it was because they knew how fabulous and classy Titi is and not to poke fun. We love you Titi and are proud to have you in the CBRF Family.

Pierce’s lawsuit alleges that DeGeneres “defamed her, invaded her privacy and intentionally inflicted distress.” Pierce is asking for damages, and is aiming to keep the segment from airing again.

Check out the clip in question below (although note that the number has been now blurred out):

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.