A food server at Six Flags Magic Mountain, who received the title of Employee of the Month, is suing the amusement park for $25 million. The plaintiff, Charles Winters, a Black man, alleges he faced racial discrimination during his time at Big Belly Burger from 2022 to 2025.
According to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles, Winters claims he was informed that the company’s Christmas party had been canceled. He learned of this from his supervisor but later discovered through an employee bulletin that the party was still happening. Two other Black colleagues reportedly received the same information as Winters, raising concerns about unfair treatment.
Winters indicates that Black employees were assigned more strenuous cleaning tasks during idle times compared to their white counterparts, who were often stationed at registers. The lawsuit details that Black employees, including Winters, were also subjected to close monitoring regarding their appearance, particularly how their uniforms were worn.
Moreover, Winters claims he and others had to encourage customers to buy souvenirs, and faced disciplinary actions for not meeting sales goals—something that he says did not happen to non-Black employees.
Despite being named Employee of the Month in August 2023, Winters sought to report these issues to higher management and asked for a transfer due to the discrimination he faced. He was reportedly told that transferring was not an option and that he should simply address his problems.
An incident on June 21, 2025, further compounded his grievances. A white security guard stopped him while he was leaving work, questioning his presence in the park. The lawsuit asserts that he was singled out due to his race, which led the guard to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Winters showed law enforcement his employee badge to prove he was not trespassing, but the Magic Mountain loss prevention team confiscated it. Ultimately, he was suspended and then fired on July 3, 2025, for allegedly not cooperating with security protocols.
He is now pursuing $25 million in damages to cover lost wages, benefits, and future job opportunities.
As of now, Six Flags Magic Mountain has not provided any comments regarding the lawsuit.
