Black job applicant sues over hair discrimination, but the company says it was ...

A black job applicant is suing his employer after its San Diego office told him he had to cut his dreadlocks in order to get the gig, but the company is now saying it's a 'miscommunication.' 

Jeffrey Thornton filed a lawsuit on Monday against his employer, event company Encore Group, after its San Diego office denied him employment unless he cut his hair. 

Thornton has worked for the company as a technician since 2016 in its Florida office, but decided to move to the San Diego office after being furloughed in 2020 and hearing the California office was hiring more positions. 

He interviewed for a technical supervisor position on November 1, where the hiring manager informed him his hair had to change in order to be officially offered the role.

'I was told I was being recommended by my East Coast references and that I should find the transition to be no problem,' he said at a press conference on November 30 from inside a barbershop. 

'All that was left was to discuss the dress code. I expected to have to remove my ear gauges, that's not a problem, [and] I'd be willing to trim my facial face. But I wasn't prepared to be told I would need to cut my hair in order to comply with Encore standards,' he said. 

Encore is now claiming it was a 'miscommunication' and 'maintaining a diverse and inclusive workspace' is a part of its 'core values.' 

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Thornton told the San Diego hiring manager that cutting his hair was a 'deal breaker.' The company reportedly does not allow employees to tie their hair back and that it must be above the ears, eyes and shoulders, CNN reported.

The company told Thornton that there would be a position for him once he did. 

'If it wasn't a problem in Florida, it shouldn't be a problem in California, right?' Thornton said at the