#Charlize Theron’s cousin, founder of FaceGym, accused of racism

Charlize Theron’s South African cousin practices apartheid when it comes to her high-end face treatments, according to a pair of racial-discrimination lawsuits.

With outlets in Saks Fifth Avenue and downtown, Inge Theron’s FaceGyms charge upwards of $340 per session with trainers who massage and manipulate clients’ facial muscles for a more youthful appearance. With the tagline, “It’s not a facial, it’s a workout,” it’s attracted clients like supermodels Karlie Kloss and Irina Shayk and singer Lizzo among its fans.

But London-based Theron, 43, doesn’t want to serve, or hire, minorities, two former workers charge in court papers.

“I had no idea that I had black customers,” the blonde, blue-eyed Inge allegedly said during a company event, adding, “I don’t want those kind of customers in my store.”

Theron made the remarks after workers at the Saks outpost urged her to expand her makeup line to include darker skin tones, former assistant manager Acacia Gonzalez claims in a $1 million Manhattan Federal Court lawsuit.

When she tried to give higher-ups a list of high-profile, minority Instagram “influencers,” Gonzalez claims, she was ignored. Gonzalez was denied breaks and overtime pay, scolded for eating at work and speaking Spanish, and fired for complaining about the discrimination she saw, the $1 million lawsuit contends.

Another former manager said in a different lawsuit she was ordered to can workers at the Saks location who weren’t “on brand.”

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What a difference two weeks makes! Stuck at home, working, worrying, supplementing, zoom-conferencing, restructuring, repurposing, teaching, disciplining, feeding, entertaining.. becoming a total wreck !! Who is with me ?‍♀️?‍♀️ … So It’s never been more important to carve out little pockets of time for yourself, now is a great moment to create ritual and tonight I’m going to get back into my regular FaceGym routine. Yup I am taking my face back to the gym at 6pm GMT! Join me for our first of many weekly FREE mini masterclasses hosted by our amazing team of trainers from around the world ! See you there at 6pm. @facegym IGLIVE #stayhome

A post shared by Inge Theron (@ingetheron76) on Mar 30, 2020 at 3:11am PDT

When Elizabeth Ruiz asked what that meant, she was allegedly told the salon “looks like ‘Orange is the New Black,’” according to a $2 million October lawsuit she filed against FaceGym in Manhattan Supreme Court.

A FaceGym lawyer insisted the incidents “never happened,” adding the company is “vigorously defending” itself.