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Producer Claims Al Roker’s Company Fired Him for Supporting Black Staff
Producer Sues Al Roker’s Company Over Firing
A lawsuit has been filed against Al Roker and his production company for alleged retaliation and lack of diversity in television hires. The suit claims that Bill Schultz, a renowned animated series producer, was wrongfully terminated after speaking out against racial discrimination at the company.
Quick Facts
- In the lawsuit, Bill Schultz claims he was wrongfully and illegally fired by Al Roker Entertainment and its subsidiary WeatherHunters, Inc.
- Schultz was involved in the creation of a children’s animated series for PBS, where he pushed for diversity and racial inclusion in staffing and production.
- The lawsuit alleges that the company attempted to bypass diversity initiatives and favored hiring white writers over writers of color.
A lawsuit filed this week accuses Al Roker Entertainment and its subsidiary WeatherHunters, Inc. of wrongfully and illegally firing Bill Schultz, a prominent animated series producer, allegedly for speaking out against racial discrimination at the company. Schultz, known for his work on shows like The Simpsons and King of the Hill, claims he was terminated after advocating for diversity and racial inclusion in staffing and production at the company.
Schultz was involved in the creation of a children’s animated series for PBS, where he pushed for a diverse group of creators and artists. However, he accused the company of undermining diversity initiatives and hiring white writers over writers of color, despite PBS’s contractual mandates for diversity and inclusion. The lawsuit details instances where management allegedly attempted to sidestep diversity policies and favored white writers over writers of color, leading to Schultz’s termination in Feb. 2024.
The complaint also alleges that management misled Schultz by claiming that hiring qualified writers of color would disrupt production schedules. Schultz has demanded a trial and at least $10 million in damages from the company. Al Roker has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.
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