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ESPN, Disney lawsuit overview:
- Who: Two former ESPN employees are suing the company and its majority owner, Disney.
- Why: The plaintiffs say they were illegally fired after refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Where: The ESPN, Disney lawsuit was filed in a Connecticut federal court.
Two former ESPN employees have filed a lawsuit against the company and its majority owner, Disney, alleging they were illegally fired after refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Former ESPN Radio producer Beth Faber and former ESPN sports reporter Allison Williams filed the complaint against ESPN and The Walt Disney Co. on Jan. 11 in a Connecticut federal court, alleging violations of Title VII, federal disability law and Connecticut state laws.
Faber said she’d worked for ESPN since December 1991 and served as a producer beginning in 2014.
In May 2021 she received an email from an executive saying she had to receive a COVID-19 vaccine by July 31, 2021, and that preferential assignments would be given to fully vaccinated employees beginning in June, the lawsuit states.
Faber objected based on her “very strong religious beliefs,” she said. She applied for a religious exemption from getting the vaccine — citing hours of prayer, scripture and guidance from God — but says she was denied for not providing enough documentation to support the request.
“Despite these clear articulations of sincerely held religious beliefs in support of her opposition and request for an exemption, ESPN found reason to continue to question her sincerity,” the lawsuit states.
Other plaintiff also allegedly fired after refusing vaccine
Williams began at ESPN in 2010, she said. Initially she requested a medical exemption to the vaccination mandate in August 2021 because she was undergoing in vitro fertilization. Later that month, she asked for a religious exemption.
“Plaintiff informed Defendants in writing that she was a Christian and that her sincerely held and heartfelt religious beliefs prohibited her from being vaccinated,” the lawsuit states.
On Oct. 13, Williams was informed her request was denied and she had one week to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or she would be terminated. She chose not to be vaccinated. On Oct. 19, she was fired.
The plaintiffs say they are victims of religious discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. They are seeking damages, backpay, fees, costs and a jury trial.
Last month, an unvaccinated former Disney World worker hit Walt Disney Parks and Resorts with a lawsuit alleging she had her civil rights violated when she was forced to wear a mask at work, and then fired for not doing so.
What do you think of the allegations against ESPN and Disney in this case? Let us know in the comments.
Faber and Williams are represented by Sheldon Karasik of Sheldon Karasik PC and Christopher Dunn of Dunn Employment Law LLC.
The ESPN Disney class action lawsuit is Faber, et al. v. ESPN Productions Inc., et al., Case No. 3:23-cv-00041, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.
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One thought on ESPN, Disney lawsuit alleges workers fired after COVID religious exemption denial
I was let go from Disney, I was denied my Religious Exemption, Retaliation my coworker got to stay.
I worked for 22yrs.