Poll: Is Debrahlee Lorenzana Too Sexy for Citibank or is Her Claim Just Hot Air?

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

Debrahlee Lorenzana (Saswat Pattanayak)

NEW YORK (CBS) Debrahlee Lorenzana claims in court papers that she was forced out of her Manhattan Citibank job because she was too gorgeous, according to The Village Voice.

PICTURES: Debrahlee Lorenzana, Too Sexy for Bank?

Lorenzana says she was subject to "improper comments" and was reprimanded for dressing too sexy.

She said she was told by her bosses to tone down her wardrobe, says the Voice.

"What they said to me is (other women's) body types and my body type were different and because of my body type I drew too much attention," Lorenzana told CBS affiliate WCBS.

She was fired, according to the New York Post, in August 2009, and her gender discrimination lawsuit is currently in private arbitration. The paper says that a statement released by Citibank describes the suit as being "without merit."

Lorenzana is suing for lost wages and emotional distress, according to WCBS. She hopes to teach Citibank a lesson: don't desire me, don't discriminate against me. Just let me do my job.

37 Photos

Debrahlee Lorenzana: Too Sexy for Bank?

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by Rhaspun June 30, 2010 1:00 PM EDT: She looks attractive. But nothing that distracting about her. I would say she's milking this situation for the attention. I've seen this type of behavior from young attractive women who act innocent but subtlety play up their looks. Being careful to make sure that it isn't done overtly.; Reply to this comment


by sweetpea48-2009 June 28, 2010 9:37 PM EDT: She is doing this for attention. She said she has had four breast enhancements and is now a 32DD. She also said she wants to look like a playboy model and wants men to desire her.; Reply to this comment


by lillarryakababy June 28, 2010 3:52 AM EDT: OK PEOPLE, I TOOK A GOOD LOOK AT ALL OF DEBRAHLEE'S PHOTOS; AND I CONCLUDE THAT CITYBANK WAS WRONG TO LET HER GO.
SHE WAS NOT DRESSING TOO SEXY. SHE ACTUALLY DRESSED CONSERVATIVELY. DARK COLORS, LOOSE FIT, ... NOTHING TOO PROVACATIVE. IF HER CLOTHES WERE ANY LOOSER, SHE WOULD HAVE RUN THE RISK OF LOOKING SLIGHTLY OVERWEIGHT. OVERWEIGHT WOMEN HAVE A HARD TIME RISING IN THE WORK FORCE ... UNFORTUNATE, BUT TRUE. HER CLOTHES WERE CONSERVATIVE ENOUGH TO DISCOURAGE UNWANTED ADVANCES, AND YET COMPLIMENTING ENOUGH TO KEEP HER FROM LOOKING SLIGHTLY OVERWEIGHT. I REMEMBER BACK WHEN I WAS A VALUE DEBATOR IN THE NATIONAL FORENSICS LEAGUE; A MUCH MORE SENOIR DEBATOR SAID, "A WOMAN DOES NOT HAVE HIDE HER FEMININITY TO BE ACCEPTED." I AGREE.
DEBRAHLEE'S CLAIM IS SERIOUS; AND IT'S NOT HOT AIR. IN MY OPINION, DEBRAHLEE'S PROBLEM WITH THE CITYBANK WORK ENVIRONMENT IS NOT IN HER CLOTHES... IT'S JUST HER. SHE IS A WALKING WORK OF ART. SHE COULD DRESS IN A HABIT; IT WOULD NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT SHE IS BEAUTIFUL, BUT SHOULD THAT BE CURSE? SHOULD SHE BE FIRED BECAUSE HER BEAUTY INTIMIDATES PEOPLE...? NO. PEOPLE HAVE TO JUST ACCEPT THE FACT THAT BEAUTIFUL WOMEN LIKE HER ARE GAINING GROUND DEEPER INTO THE WORKFORCE AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DISAPPEAR WITH A FEW BOGUS CLAIMS ON "SEXY DRESSING." TO ME THE WOMAN IS SEXY NO MATTER WHAT SHE HAS ON, BUT I KNOW THAT I COULD WORK WITH HER WITHOUT BEING INTIMIDATED OR UNCOMFORTABLE. THIS IS 2010, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO STOP BEING SO IGNORANT. HER CLAIM IS VALID; AND I THINK SHE SHOULD WIN HER CASE AND COMPENSATION. I THINK SHE SHOULD GET A HANDSOME SETTLEMENT, AND WITH SOME OF THE MONEY, SHE SHOULD START HER OWN FIRM. SHE IS OBVIOUSLY TOO INTELLIGENT FOR CITYBANK. IT'S CLEAR THAT THEY UNDER ESTIMATED HER. I DON'T THINK THEY THOUGHT THAT SHE WOULD ACTUALLY RETAIN A LAWYER, GAIN PUBLIC INTEREST, AND FIGHT FOR HER RIGHTS WITH ANY MEASURE OF WORLDWIDE LEGITIMACY. I'M SURE OTHER WOMEN HAVE BEEN FIRED IN THIS SAME WAY, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY SAW HOW THIS ONE WOULD PLAY OUT.

"I'M TOO SEXY FOR MY CLOTHES, TOO SEXY FOR MY SHIRT,
I'M TOO SEXY :) "
BACK IN THE DAY SONG LYRICS, BUT APPLICABLE. IT'S NOT HER CLOTHES, IT'S THEIR ABILITY TO DEAL WITH HER BEAUTY AND CHARISMA. HER NATURAL PERSONA SHINES TOO BRIGHT FOR THEM; SO THEY WANT TO DIM HER LIGHT OR PUT IT OUT. BUT ARE THEY REALLY IN POSITION TO DEAL WITH HER LIKE THIS?

WE DID NOT BAIL OUT THE BANKS SO THAT THEY COULD TURN AROUND AND FIRE WOMEN FOR BEING TOO "SEXY." I SUPPORT OBAMA 100% I THINK THE BAIL OUTS WERE NECESSARY TO AVOID A SERIOUS SYSTEMIC COLLASPE, BUT THIS WAS NOT THE WAY FOR THAT INDUSTRY TO RESPOND TO SUCH GOOD FAITH AND GENEROUSITY. I'LL BET HER QUOTA PROBLEM WAS CONNECTED TO WHAT MY OLD SALES OFFICE WOULD HAVE CALLED "BAD LEADS." WHEN I WORKED SALES, A PERSON WAS GIVEN "BAD LEADS" IF THEY WERE SET TO BE TERMINATED. "BAD LEADS" ARE FILLED WITH PROSPECTS THAT THE FIRM ALREADY KNOWS WILL NOT EVER WANT TO DO BUSINESS. "BAD LEADS," "SAND BAGGING," ... THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. WE ARE TOO ADVANCED FOR THESE REDICULOUS AND CORNY TACTICS. CITYBANK SHOULD COMPENSATE AND THE AMERICAN WORKFORCE NEEDS TO GET READY FOR WOMEN WHO ARE OK WITH BEING WOMEN.; Reply to this comment


by zoing7 June 8, 2010 7:53 AM EDT: Wow, I see some silly comments here. Sorry. But one comment blames her co workers BONERS on her "narcissism". From many articles it seems her bosses had a habit of continually trying to adjust her clothing. She wore classy clothes, but even in black that covered everything, people could see that super model body. So they ask her to stop curling her hair and not wear makeup. Then they changed that around. I've seen many more work and non-work pictures. She's hot either way. Then another post says they've seen all the pictures of her "posing". Hey jellis11, did you ever stop to notice that some of those pictures were NOT taken at work? And as for her "posing". Posing for what? Nude web sites? NO, she is always dressed nicely. Plus your handle says it all. Jealous? And I could think she's "full of crap" as another poster said, but what about the fact that she's had the same problem over and over?

Seems to me that if this had only happened to her once, she would likely not know what to do. But since it happens over and over, she's worked her self up to getting an attorney. I say, GOOD FOR HER! Also I have been distracted by much less pretty girls than her. Maybe it does mess up the work place. But is that her fault? It's not like she dresses like a ***** at work with bright colors and showing tons of cleavage. Instead she tries to cover up. But you can't cover up those curves. That's why she should have been a super model, lol. Also how do all you people know she's dumb? Because English is her 2nd language? I don't even know a 2nd language. And they gave her a $70,000 a year job. And no I doubt they paid her that much because of her looks since after all that's the reason they are firing her. She doesn't sound like your dumb, dime store idiot working the cash register to me. (not that even those people are dumb). But the nail in the coffin is on a talk show, she said she has a recording of her employers continually asking her to adjust her clothing to be less distracting even though she was dressing classy to begin with. They basically wanted her to wear clothes that looked like a tent to cover her curves. So what's that have to do with her competence? Nothing. Lying stupid employers. We've all been there and had lousy bosses. Maybe not cause we are hot, but for other reason. I hope she wins.; Reply to this comment


by emrivlop June 7, 2010 11:23 AM EDT: Puuuleezzzz she's pretty but fired cause shes sexy? What a Narcissus blaming everyone. But her bad performance. She's been fired before? She said shes had enough she should take the money she's paying lawyer and go to training. Wow she is so full of herself what a joke; Reply to this comment


by jellis11 June 7, 2010 8:35 AM EDT: She should be fired! It looks like ALL she did was pose for pictures! She has 30+ pics of her in the bank just posing. Lame. She is just trying to get money with her scum bag lawyer. And threatening to sue Chase on the Early Show if they fire her... Lame again. She should just go try to be in the Sears catalog and stop being a ........; Reply to this comment


by magnumdr June 6, 2010 9:12 PM EDT: Does anyone know if this woman is smart of just another dork getting by on her looks. She seems to pose for all of the pics I have seen of her; Reply to this comment


by FerdFerkle June 6, 2010 8:01 PM EDT: I don't feel sorry for her now, because she is milking it for all it's worth now. Why so many photos? She'll just use it to be another cheap celebrity to get rich fast. And her fat cat lawyer is taking advantage of it too. Such a cheap shot~
See http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-504083_162-10003635.html?tag=page; Reply to this comment


by staycalm June 6, 2010 12:47 PM EDT: She is 100% correct. I know, I lived through this as well except most of my tormentors in the office were women. They would place half empty liquor bottles on my desk when I was out to lunch and tell the boss that I was drinking on the job (I am a teetotaler). They plotted and schemed for years to get me fired. They formed a club around me and even got some of the nerdy men in the office to convert to their cause. I was excellent at my job...no complaints from the boss but he did mention that I should be careful of what I wore because my figure was distracting. Other women could wear the same things I wore but it wouldn't look sexy on them. I was eventually bullied out of the job but, like this woman, no one would take my complaint seriously. People think that a sexy, good-looking woman has nothing to complain about because she is so blessed but, beleive me, nothing could be further from the truth. Women hate you without even giving you a chance. Nice men are intimidated by you so they also don't give you a chance and bad men just want you for one thing. It is very hard to find true friendship, true love or a good, high-level career if you are too good-looking.; Reply to this comment


by daffy64 June 6, 2010 11:12 AM EDT: Well she's famous now and going to be in Playboy.

Maybe that was her scheme from day one.; Reply to this comment