ICM faced a backlash over an HR video intended to feature its agent-trainee program during 2019& #39;s Black History Month.

Black assistants were asked to pose as agent-trainees because there were so few people of color in the program, said 10 former employees https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-05-05/icm-partners-pledged-gender-equity-but-women-say-they-were-mistreated">https://www.latimes.com/entertain...

Jabari McDonald was an assistant when an HR manager asked if he’d be willing to fill a space in the video.

McDonald, who has a master’s in film from Columbia University, figured his role would be to sit in the background so the room wouldn’t appear empty https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-05-05/icm-partners-pledged-gender-equity-but-women-say-they-were-mistreated">https://www.latimes.com/entertain...

Instead, he and two other Black support staffers were asked to sit next to a line of white agent-trainees, presenting the appearance they were part of the program when they were not, McDonald said. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-05-05/icm-partners-pledged-gender-equity-but-women-say-they-were-mistreated">https://www.latimes.com/entertain...

After several staffers complained, an HR manager apologized to McDonald. The footage of the Black assistants from the agent-trainee meeting was not included in the final video, he said.

“It was poor judgment,” ICM said. "It was quickly corrected.” https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-05-05/icm-partners-pledged-gender-equity-but-women-say-they-were-mistreated">https://www.latimes.com/entertain...

McDonald remains skeptical about ICM Partners& #39; pledges to make more diverse hires https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-05-05/icm-partners-pledged-gender-equity-but-women-say-they-were-mistreated">https://www.latimes.com/entertain...

The Times& #39; @thewendylee investigated other cases of harassment and misconduct within the company.

Subscribe to read her full report: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-05-05/icm-partners-pledged-gender-equity-but-women-say-they-were-mistreated">https://www.latimes.com/entertain...

Warning: this story contains details of sexual harassment and misconduct allegations.