“Leather daddy” designer Peter Marino, who is accused of using racial slurs in his office, is now claiming that the office manager suing him is homophobic.
Marino [TRDataCustom] says Deirdre O’Brien called a co-worker “a big homo” and used her work email to send pornographic images, the New York Post reported. The accusation was in response to a lawsuit filed by O’Brien in December, which alleged that Marino referred to female employees as “c****” and made racist comments in the office. O’Brien claims she was fired after 14 years at the firm when she complained about Marino’s behavior.
The accusation is just the latest chapter in litigation lobbed at the leather-loving designer. In May, a former textile specialist at the firm accused Marino of sexually harassing him and mocking him for being gay.
Marino’s past clients have included Calvin Klein, Chanel, Fendi and developer Michael Schvo. [NYP] — Kathryn Brenzel