Dr. Phil McGraw has been accused of anti-gay discrimination by his former publicist, Jerry Sharell, who alleges he lost his job because of his sexuality.
Sharell has filed a lawsuit against McGraw and his North Texas media company, Envoy Media, claiming he was deliberately excluded when much of the operation relocated to Fort Worth.
McGraw and the company strongly deny the allegations.
Sharell Alleges He Was Singled Out
According to the lawsuit, Sharell was told in March that he was being placed on “hiatus” for financial reasons. He alleges, however, that other employees were relocated to Texas while he was left behind, and that new staff were subsequently hired.
Sharell argues that his sexual orientation was a substantial factor in the decision affecting his employment.
The lawsuit also alleges McGraw once referred to him using an anti-gay stereotype after Sharell was distracted by emails during a group discussion.
Sharell further claims he experienced other uncomfortable incidents at the company’s Fort Worth headquarters, including a pastor leaving prayer cards on his desk and an employee allegedly making a hostile comment while referring to a photograph of him.
The claims have not been proven in court.
Dr. Phil Denies The Allegations
McGraw’s lawyer, Chip Babcock, has rejected the accusation that Sharell was treated differently because he is gay.
“Jerry Sharell was put on hiatus over the summer as is common in this industry, especially with a media startup,” Babcock said.
“He was not fired for any reason and certainly not because of his sexual orientation.”
McGraw’s representatives also said the allegations were false and argued that he has a long history of treating LGBTQ+ people with dignity and respect.
The company has also said the lawsuit is connected to a dispute over an arbitration agreement and has pledged to defend itself.
McGraw’s Politics Have Drawn LGBTQ+ Scrutiny
The lawsuit comes as McGraw has become increasingly aligned with Donald Trump and conservative politics.
He publicly supported Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign and was later appointed to the president’s Religious Liberty Commission in 2025.
That political relationship has drawn criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates because the Trump administration has introduced numerous policies restricting transgender rights, including measures affecting healthcare, military service and federal recognition of gender.
Those political connections do not prove Sharell’s allegations, but they have added to interest in the case.
The Case Will Now Play Out In Court
Sharell’s lawsuit raises serious allegations about workplace discrimination, but the claims remain contested.
McGraw and Envoy Media maintain that his sexuality played no role in the employment decision, while Sharell argues that the circumstances surrounding his exclusion and the alleged comments he experienced show otherwise.
The case will now depend on what evidence is presented and how the court assesses the competing accounts.
For LGBTQ+ workers, it is another reminder that workplace protections matter not only on paper, but in how organisations treat people day to day.
