She was accused of roughing up a flight attendant

It took a jury just a couple hours Thursday to kick a flight attendant to the curb who had accused the wife of mega-preacher Joel Osteen of assaulting her in a racist rant over a first-class seat. The case centered on Sharon Brown, an African-American attendant with Continental Airlines, who sued Victoria Osteen for $405,000, claiming that Osteen slammed her against a bathroom door, elbowed her in her breast and attempted to storm the cockpit during a December 2005 flight from Houston to Vail, Colo. Brown’s claims were supported by another flight attendant, Maria Johnson, who is White. Johnson testified earlier in the week that she believes race was a factor because Victoria Osteen told her that she did not want to deal with Brown or the other African-American flight attendant during the trip. But the 12 jurors didn’t buy the story, perhaps agreeing more with Victoria Osteen’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, who characterized the charges as nothing more than a money-grab. “I’m glad it’s over,” Victoria Osteen said afterward. “I expected it because it’s the truth and I know the truth always stands firm.” Brown expressed disappointment. “We gave the truth to the jury,” she said. “We are happy we had an opportunity to try our case.” Victoria and Joel Osteen co-pastor the Lakewood Church in Houston, which draws 42,000 each week at a football stadium.

Victoria Osteen has been charged with causing a ruckus on the plane

A flight attendant whose psychiatrist says felt “disrespected as a Black woman” is suing the wife of the pastor of one of the nation’s largest evangelical churches, saying she was assaulted on a flight from Houston to Colorado. Sharon Brown is suing Victoria Osteen, who is married to televangelist Joel Osteen, with whom she co-pastors the Lakewood Church in Houston, a converted football stadium that draws some 42,000 members each week. Brown claims that Osteen threw her against a bathroom door and elbowed her in her breast before the start of a flight three years ago, The Associated Press reports. The fracas on the Continental Airlines flight apparently began over a spill about the size of a 50-cent piece on a seat in first class. Osteen allegedly was agitated that the spill wasn’t being cleaned up fast enough. Another flight attendant, Maria Johnson, testified Thursday that Osteen was out of control and corroborated Brown’s claims. “She was demanding that attention be given to her immediately,” Johnson said. Osteen kept saying: “This is ridiculous. I’m a first-class passenger,” Johnson added. She confirmed Brown’s assertion that Osteen was so upset that she tried to force her way into the cockpit. “She took Sharon by the shoulders and pushed her out of the way. Sharon stumbled,” Johnson testified. Johnson, who is White, suggested that race might have been a factor, noting that Osteen only wanted to deal with her and not the other two flight attendants, who are Black. But Rusty Hardin, Victoria Osteen’s attorney, said the lawsuit is all about money. “This is nothing more than an attempted extortion,” Hardin told jurors during opening statements. While admitting that Victoria Osteen is sometimes a “very excitable and expressive person,” Hardin said she was never out of control. AP reports that Brown’s psychiatrist, Shayna Lee, testified that “Brown has suffered depression and post-traumatic stress disorder because of the incident. She also felt disrespected in her role as a leader and as a Black woman, and had her faith affected.” Brown’s attorney, Reginald McKamie, told jurors that Brown was only doing her job. “Sharon was attacked by someone in the community who supposedly represents a higher degree of human decency,” he said. Brown is seeking an apology and 10 percent of Victoria Osteen’s net worth as part of her suit. Is this about money or did Victoria Osteen mess up in a major way?