In 2022, Keith Lilly was hired by Harlem Assemblyman Eddie Gibbs (D-Manhattan) as a senior adviser. However, just a day before Lilly was informed that he would need to have his toes amputated due to complications from Type II diabetes, Gibbs fired him while he was in the hospital for several weeks.
Lilly felt stunned when Gibbs informed him of his termination while he was in his hospital bed, providing no explanation for the decision. Despite facing personal and professional devastation during his health crisis, Lilly expressed his dismay over Gibbs’ treatment of him. This is not the first time that Gibbs has been accused of discrimination against a former staffer while they were dealing with medical issues.
Former East Harlem Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV, who has known Lilly for 30 years, condemned Gibbs’ actions and stated that Lilly did not deserve to be terminated while dealing with medical issues. Powell is supporting Xavier Santiago in the primary race against Gibbs.
Gibbs did not respond to a request for comment on the matter as of Friday.