NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Saints are denying allegations of racism and retribution in a federal lawsuit filed by a fired longtime personal assistant to club owner Tom Benson.

The lawsuit, filed in November by Rodney Henry, initially centered on allegations that the Saints failed to properly pay Henry for his hours worked.

Henry amended the lawsuit Tuesday, accusing Benson's wife, Gayle, of using the word "black," while slandering him. Henry also alleges the Saints fired him because of his testimony in another lawsuit filed by Tom Benson's estranged heirs, who've contested a 2015 succession plan leaving Gayle Benson in charge of the Saints and NBA's Pelicans.

Saints spokesman Greg Bensel says Tom and Gayle Benson once considered Henry family and are "extremely hurt" by his accusations, which they call "ridiculous."