A California judge is weighing whether to dismiss a lawsuit accusing YouTube illusionist Zach King of creating a wholesome public image while fostering a workplace marked by sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation behind the scenes.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Cindy Pánuco heard arguments Monday on King's bid to throw out the case, filed by former producer Elisabeth Logan, and took the matter under submission.

Logan's lawsuit alleges wrongful termination, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, retaliation, wage discrimination, failure to prevent harassment and discrimination, and multiple violations of California labor law.

King and his company, King Studio LLC, deny the allegations.

According to the lawsuit, Logan says King cultivated a "charming, clean-cut, Christian persona" that attracted brands and audiences, but alleges he was instead "a gifted liar," "a narcissist" and a misogynist who repeatedly mistreated her during her employment.

Logan, who joined King Studio as a part-time executive assistant in April 2015 before being promoted to producer in 2016, says King promised opportunities to help build her career in television and film production. Instead, she alleges she was excluded from those projects while being paid less than male colleagues performing substantially similar work.

The lawsuit also alleges King sexually harassed her throughout her employment, including by leaving his underwear on the floor of her office.

Logan further claims she was routinely expected to compensate for male co-workers whom she says spent workdays "horsing around" or napping, and that King questioned her career ambitions because he believed she should focus on becoming a wife and mother.

She alleges King regularly belittled and yelled at her over minor mistakes while excusing more serious errors by male employees.

Logan says she was fired over Zoom in May 2020. According to the complaint, King acknowledged the decision would come as a "total surprise" and praised her work as "great" and "impressive," but allegedly told her she was being dismissed because she "complained too much." The lawsuit further alleges King told her to "think of it like a breakup."

King's attorneys argue the lawsuit is an attempt to pressure the company into a financial settlement after contract negotiations broke down.

In court filings, they describe Logan's allegations as false and inflammatory, saying she never complained about the workplace during her years at the company, where they say she was the second-highest-paid employee.

The defense also points to messages Logan allegedly sent King during her employment. In one, dated September 2016, she thanked him for being "encouraging, generous, flexible, gracious" and for maintaining "open ears" with employees.

Three years later, she allegedly wrote that she felt "incredibly blessed" to work for King and was grateful for the friendships she had built with her co-workers.

King, 36, rose to fame through highly edited illusion videos on social media. At the time the lawsuit was filed in December 2021, he had more than 12 million YouTube subscribers, 24 million Instagram followers and 66 million TikTok followers. The court has not yet ruled on his motion to dismiss.