Minister Sues MAC Cosmetics, Says Makeup Requirement Violates Religion
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A minister is suing a cosmetics company, saying he was demoted in his work as a makeup artist for refusing on religious grounds to put on makeup.
Barry Jones, ordained minister and licensed esthetician, sued MAC Cosmetics this week in Detroit federal court. He says he was working at the now-shuttered Northland Mall in suburban Detroit in 2014 when he was required to wear makeup if he wanted a full-time makeup artist certification with the company.
Jones told the Detroit Free Press he refused to try blush, eye shadow, lipstick and fake eyelashes during training because it would violate his religion by causing him "to look like a woman." He's a minister at Gordy Memorial Church of God in Christ in River Rouge.
"I'm an ordained minister. I've been preaching for 19 years," Jones said. "I don't want my integrity to be called into question within my organization because I have on makeup."
After refusing to wear the makeup, Jones said he was demoted from an official MAC makeup artist to a freelance artist with the company, and he couldn't find any work.
"It seemed like I was just blackballed," said Jones.
MAC Cosmetics said it doesn't comment on pending litigation.
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