‘SEAL Team’ writer accuses CBS of discrimination as straight white man

A script coordinator and freelance screenwriter who penned three episodes of the CBS navy drama SEAL Team is suing the community and its dad or mum firm, Paramount International, alleging that he was discriminated towards as a straight white man and denied a employees writing job.

In a complaint filed Thursday in California federal court docket, attorneys for plaintiff Brian Beneker argue that CBS’ range, fairness, and inclusion efforts have “created a scenario the place heterosexual, white males want ‘further’ {qualifications} (together with navy expertise or earlier writing credit) to be employed as employees writers [on SEAL Team] when in comparison with their nonwhite, LGBTQ, or feminine friends, who require no such ‘further’ {qualifications}.”

Beneker is being represented by America First Legal, a conservative nonprofit based by former Trump White Home coverage aide Stephen Miller.

CBS declined to touch upon the lawsuit.

In line with the grievance, Beneker was employed as script coordinator for the present’s first season in 2017 and provided the chance to write down an episode within the present’s second season as a contract author. Nonetheless, Beneker alleges that the showrunner required him to give up his script supervisor place to write down for the present, which he agreed to do, and his episode in the end made it to air. Beneker additionally claims that he agreed to coach his substitute script supervisor: “a lady with none expertise” who give up two weeks into coaching, which led to Beneker being rehired in his outdated place.

The go well with goes on to allege that Beneker was repeatedly turned down for workers writing positions between 2019 and 2024, stating that “a black male who had no earlier writing credit and little substantial expertise,” “a black lady with no main writing credit,” “a feminine author’s assistant with no prior writing credit,” and “two feminine author’s assistants, with none writing credit” (one a Black lady, one a lesbian) have been all employed for workers author positions as an alternative of Beneker.

The grievance additionally claims that one other showrunner “indicated the explanation Beneker couldn’t be introduced on as a employees author was that he didn’t test any range bins, thus confirming that the Defendants intentionally discriminated towards Beneker on the idea of his race, intercourse, gender, and sexual orientation.”

Heneker is in search of damages of an “quantity exceeding $500,000” for misplaced wage, and in addition needs to be provided a full-time job as a producer.

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