Teddi Mellencamp is being sued by her former housekeeper for racial discrimination, amid her battle with brain tumors.
Julia Umana, who alleges that she served as the live-in nanny and housekeeper for Teddi, aged 43, has accused the celebrity of racism, stating that Teddi treated her ‘worse than any other celebrity boss,’ according to TMZ.
In her legal complaint, Umana has alleged that the former star of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills engaged in behaviors such as ‘withholding pay, fostering a hostile workplace, and practicing racial bias and harassment.’
Umana — an immigrant from El Salvador — alleges Teddi overworked her and treated her unfairly compared to white household staff.
Umana further asserts that Teddi wrongly accused her of stealing, despite the presence of security cameras in the house, and never made similar allegations against a white, blonde colleague.
Umana is seeking more than $2 million in damages.
Teddi Mellencamp, 43, is being sued by her former housekeeper for racial discrimination, amid her battle with brain tumors; Pictured in 2024
The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star is being sued for more than $2 million in damages, according to TMZ; Pictured on Wednesday ahead of her brain tumor surgery
Umana claims Mellencamp’s discriminatory treatment included mocking her for speaking Spanish and using a ‘nasty’ tone she never directed at white staff.
She further alleges that after resigning, Teddi pressured to work three 12-hour shifts for $325, and was then fired after complaining about the pay.
Umana is now seeking over $2 million in damages for wrongful termination and unpaid wages.
The news of the lawsuit comes after Teddi’s estranged husband, Edwin Arroyave, 47, revealed the star suffered ‘so much pain’ after undergoing grueling surgery to have ‘multiple’ brain tumors removed on Wednesday.
He shared the distressing update on Thursday, but assured her fans the procedure went ‘well’ and she is ‘finally’ resting.
Edwin and Teddi are currently in the process of divorcing after 13 years of marriage and three children, Slate, 12, Cruz, 10, and Dove, four. Teddi is also stepmom to Edwin’s daughter Bella, 15, from a previous relationship.
But the founder and CEO of Skyline Security Management still rushed to be by the reality TV star’s bedside as she underwent emergency surgery following a years-long battle with skin cancer.
‘All I will say right now is surgery went well,’ Arroyave wrote in a social media post on Thursday.
Julia Umana, who claims she worked as Teddi’s live-in nanny and housekeeper, accused the star of racism, claiming Teddi treated her ‘more poorly than any other celebrity boss’; Teddi pictured with her three children, Slate, 12, Cruz, 10, and Dove, four
In the lawsuit, Umana accused Teddi of ‘shorting paychecks, creating a hostile work environment and engaging in racial discrimination and harassment’; Teddi seen in February
She further alleges that after resigning, Teddi pressured to work three 12-hour shifts for $325, and was then fired after complaining about the pay; Teddi pictured in 2024
‘That said, I’ve never seen @teddimellencamp in so much pain. She’s finally getting some needed rest. I know she is so grateful for the outpouring of love.’
Arroyave and their children visited the star shortly before she underwent emergency surgery after doctors found tumors on her brain.
On Wednesday, Mellencamp took to her Instagram page to give a devastating health update and revealed ‘multiple’ tumors have been found on her brain.
Before having emergency surgery to remove two of the larger tumors, Teddi was visited by her loved ones and close friends.
Edwin also rushed to the hospital to be by Teddi’s side and their kids also comforted their mother shortly before the procedure.
In a photo shared to his main Instagram page, Arroyave could be seen standing next to Mellencamp who rested in a hospital bed.
She lifted her arm to place her hand on the back of his neck as his own gently laid on her shoulder.
In the caption, Arroyave wrote: ‘Jeremiah 17:14: Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.’
The news of the lawsuit comes after Teddi’s estranged husband, Edwin Arroyave, 47, revealed the star suffered ‘so much pain’ after undergoing grueling surgery to have ‘multiple’ brain tumors removed on Wednesday
He shared the distressing update on Thursday, but assured her fans the procedure went ‘well’ and she is ‘finally’ resting
‘Lord, I lift up @teddimellencamp to You. You are the Great Healer, and I ask for Your healing touch upon her body.’
‘Restore her strength, renew her spirit, and let her feel Your comforting presence. Grant her peace, hope, and full recovery. In Jesus’ name, Amen,’ he concluded.
Edwin also shared a short clip to his Instagram stories which featured their youngest child Dove.
He filmed her asking, ‘Dad, are you gonna stay here?’ and he replied with, ‘Yeah, this is my bed. This is where I sleep.’
Arroyave then panned the camera slightly to show that he was sitting on a couch as his daughter questioned, ‘Are you gonna watch mama because she doesn’t like staying alone?’
‘Yeah, we’re watching mama,’ he answered as he turned the phone camera to show Teddi laying in the hospital bed while surrounded by her other children and close friends.
‘Is she gonna wake up and watch TV?’ Dove then asked, with Edwin responding with, ‘Yeah, she’s going to watch TV.’
The video concluded with Arroyave telling their youngest child, ‘Thanks for visiting us baby doll,’ and she sweetly replied with, ‘You’re welcome.’
Edwin also rushed to the hospital to be by Teddi’s side and their kids also comforted their mother shortly before the procedure
In the caption, Arroyave wrote: ‘Jeremiah 17:14: Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise’
Edwin also shared a short clip to his Instagram stories which featured their youngest child Dove
Arroyave then panned the camera slightly to show that he was sitting on a couch as his daughter questioned, ‘Are you gonna watch mama because she doesn’t like staying alone?’
‘Yeah, we’re watching mama,’ he answered as he turned the phone camera to show Teddi laying in the hospital bed while surrounded by her other children and close friends
Teddi and Edwin tied the knot in 2011 but the reality star later announced their shock divorce after 13 years of marriage last year on November 2.
And shortly after, a source claimed to DailyMail.com that Mellencamp had an affair with her horse trainer Simon Schroeder.
The Real Housewives alum broke her silence after news of the alleged cheating scandal came to light.
Along with a glammed up selfie, she added a cryptic caption which read, ‘When you’re being pushed into the shadows always find your light.’
Also in November, a separate insider told Us Weekly that Teddi and Edwin had been in couples therapy ‘for years’ before announcing their separation.
Earlier this month on The Skinny Confidential podcast, Mellencamp further reflected on their separation.
‘Me and Edwin had some of the most amazing years and the most amazing times, and when we met it was hot and it was all the things, and then there would be somebody else.’
‘And I’d be like, “It’s okay, I’m gonna work through it, I’m gonna make him love me more!” Then you have kids and things happen,’ she said.
Teddi and Edwin tied the knot in 2011 but the reality star later announced their shock divorce after 13 years of marriage last year on November 2
‘Probably at the point in time when Edwin was ready to start working on it and really change, I probably stopped. But I never told him I was checked out. I think that’s the problem.’
Teddi explained that Arroyave had started working on himself to save their marriage, but admitted, ‘I think I had resentment or animosity or fear of ever being open again, so then I just closed off.’
Following Mellencamp’s health update this week, her friend Tamra Judge took to X to share a photo of the pair and wrote, ‘Please keep @TeddiMellencamp in your prayers. Love you, my friend.’
The two stars co-host their podcast called Two T’s In a Pod and during Wednesday’s episode, Judge explained that Teddi would be going on a ‘brief sabbatical to deal with some health stuff.’
‘I’ll allow Teddi to tell her story when she’s back,’ she said before breaking down in tears.
‘But you all know how much she loves this podcast and wants nothing more than for us to continue on recording while she focuses on her health.’
On Wednesday, Teddi took to Instagram to reveal that multiple brain tumors have been found after she was suffering from severe headaches for weeks.
In a statement, she wrote: ‘For the last several weeks I’ve been dealing with severe and debilitating headaches. Yesterday the pain was unbearable and required hospitalization.’
Following Mellencamp’s health update this week, her friend Tamra Judge took to X to share a photo of the pair and wrote, ‘Please keep @TeddiMellencamp in your prayers. Love you, my friend’
‘I’ll allow Teddi to tell her story when she’s back,’ she said before breaking down in tears; the pair seen in 2022 in NYC
On Wednesday, Teddi took to Instagram to reveal that multiple brain tumors have been found after she was suffering from severe headaches for weeks
In another image, Teddi could be seen laying in a hospital bed and shared, ‘Counting down the minutes until my babies get here’
‘After a CT scan and MRI, doctors found multiple tumors on my brain, which they believe have been growing for at least 6 months.’
‘Two of the tumors will be surgically removed today – The remaining smaller tumors will be dealt with via radiation at a later date.’
She added, ‘I am blessed to be surrounded by my children, family, friends, doctors, nurses and surgeons who are doing everything possible to get me back into better health.’
‘Thank you to everybody who has reached out, and to everyone who has supported me along this journey.’
In another image, Teddi could be seen laying in a hospital bed and shared, ‘Counting down the minutes until my babies get here.’
‘As my dad said this am, god only gives hard stuff to those of us who can handle it. It’s a hard day but I have faith and amazing surgeons and know everything will be ok.’
In another post, a friend of Teddi’s could be seen shaving her head and the star wrote in the caption, ‘All I need now is an umbrella.’
As she panned the camera around the hospital room, Teddi revealed that pals Kyle Richards and Morgan Wade were standing near the bed with her ex Edwin also sitting nearby
Back in 2022, Teddi announced that she was diagnosed with stage II melanoma – the most dangerous form of skin cancer
Mellencamp also uploaded a video to her Instagram stories as she counted down the time until her surgery.
As she panned the camera around the hospital room, Teddi revealed that pals Kyle Richards and Morgan Wade were standing near the bed with her ex Edwin Arroyave also sitting nearby.
Back in 2022, Teddi announced that she was diagnosed with stage II melanoma – the most dangerous form of skin cancer.
She kept her fans updated with the health journey, which resulted in the star undergoing a total of sixteen procedures.
