Playboy magazine accused of age bias

CHICAGO, May 20 (UPI) -- Playboy Enterprises International is being sued by a former editor who accuses the men's magazine of age discrimination.

John Rezek, 54, says he was fired because the magazine is seeking to change its demographics to attract a younger male audience.

Rezek was let go as associate managing editor in November 2003 after 31 years at Playboy. The lawsuit filed Wednesday charged his firing was part of "a pervasive and growing atmosphere of age discrimination" that began in 2002 when top executives were trying to appeal to male readers in the 18- to 34-year-old bracket.

He says the magazine's relocation to New York City was designed to root out older employees who had family obligations that kept them from leaving Chicago.

The suit, which seeks unspecified damages, back pay and future pay, alleges Playboy CEO David Zucker once said he wanted to get rid of every reader over 25.

Playboy recently announced plans for a photo layout on "The Women of The Home Depot."