Former ESPN reporter Allison Williams and former ESPN producer Beth Faber are suing the network over its COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Williams and Faber filed a joint lawsuit against ESPN and Disney in Connecticut this week.
The lawsuit noted ESPN informed Faber in May 2021 she was required to get the vaccine by July 31, 2021.
“She was also notified that preferential treatment would be given to the fully vaccinated for work location assignments beginning the end of June. No process or provision for religious exemption requests was mentioned in the correspondence,” the lawsuit stated.
On the same day, according to the lawsuit, Faber stated her objections “which included as her basis, in her own words, ‘VERY strong religious beliefs,’ and asked how she should proceed.”
The lawsuit continued, “Faber also shared other concerns, but she noted that her opposition was ‘most importantly’ based on her religious objections.”
ESPN ultimately denied Faber’s religious exemption request and she was fired in September 2021.
Initially, Williams applied for exemption from the vaccine on the grounds of disability, according to the lawsuit.
“Plaintiff was undergoing in vitro fertilization and was concerned about the potential unknown effects the vaccination would have on the fetus,” the lawsuit explained.
It noted Williams lives in California “where medical licenses are threatened if doctors provide a medical exemption and she was therefore unable to obtain a doctor’s letter in support of her legitimate concerns.”
She then went on to apply for exemption on the grounds of her religious beliefs.
Williams “informed Defendants in writing that she was a Christian and that her sincerely held and heartfelt religious beliefs prohibited her from being vaccinated,” per the lawsuit.
ESPN argued the network could not accommodate Williams because “their venues demanded vaccination and would not extend medical or religious exemptions, however, Defendants made no efforts to either inquire as to how many would grant exemption or to assert that they had employees whom were entitled by law to exemption.”
In October 2021, Williams’ request to be exempt from the vaccine was denied.
She was fired from the network the same month.
The lawsuit argued it is “well-known that the Defense Department has exercised direct editorial control over Disney’s content. That control does not stop at content but extends to direct, indirect and covert encouragement as it pertains to policies and practices, such as vaccination requirement.”
As a result, Williams and Faber are seeking “compensatory damages, back and front pay, reputational damages, damages for emotional trauma and distress, punitive damages, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of the action, pre- and post-judgment interest.”
