A former production assistant on the upcoming Amazon MGM Studios crime drama Criminal has filed a lawsuit against the studio and production company Big Indie Pictures, alleging that showrunner Ed Brubaker subjected him to a hostile work environment that both companies failed to address. Ijaaz Noohu's complaint, filed in California state court, includes claims of sexual and racial harassment, religious discrimination, assault and battery, and alleges the misconduct culminated in Brubaker pointing a working firearm at his face and pulling the trigger. The case raises questions about oversight and accountability on major studio productions, particularly given claims that senior producers witnessed the incidents and did nothing.

Noohu, a Sri Lankan American filmmaker hired by Big Indie in February 2023, alleges Brubaker made repeated sexual comments and gestures, along with remarks invoking racial and religious stereotypes, including questions about whether he supported Hamas. The lawsuit further claims that after Noohu sought a promotion, his exit date was moved forward and he was later barred from the set in retaliation, with his employment ending in September 2024 without a production credit. It also accuses executive producer Phillip Barnett of discouraging staff from documenting complaints. Amazon MGM declined to comment, Big Indie did not respond, and Brubaker — a prominent comics writer making his showrunner debut — also did not respond to requests for comment.