CBS Claims First Amendment Allows It To Select Writers “Best Suited” For Its Programs In Discrimination Lawsuit Response
CBS and Paramount Global have filed a response to a discrimination lawsuit by a writer who claimed he wasn’t hired because he was a straight, white man.
Brian Beneker filed his suit in March, complaining that he was not hired as a staff writer for the series SEAL Team solely for reason of his race, sex, and/or sexual orientation. “Defendants failed to hire or promote Mr.
Beneker due to his race, sex, and heterosexuality,” the complaint from longtime SEAL Team script coordinator and freelance scribe Beneker read.
Beneker said in the complaint that he suffered by not being part of “the favored hiring groups; that is, they were nonwhite, LGBTQ, or female,” and the “illegal policy” of increasing diversity, equity and inclusion measures. “This balancing policy has created a situation where heterosexual, white men need ‘extra’ qualifications (including military experience or previous writing credits) to be hired as staff writers when compared to their nonwhite, LGBTQ, or female peers, who require no such ‘extra’ qualifications,” the filing added.
