Actor Rockmond Dunbar broke down in tears after losing his lawsuit against Disney, where he claimed he was fired from the hit TV show 9-1-1 for refusing the COVID vaccine due to his religious beliefs. A jury ruled in favor of Disney, ending his two-year legal battle.
According to Variety, Dunbar, who played Michael Grant on the show, shouted “Oh my God! I’m so sorry!” to his family as the verdict was read in a Los Angeles courtroom. The actor had been earning $100,000 per episode before his character was written off in 2021 when Disney enforced a vaccine mandate for cast and crew.
In his lawsuit, Dunbar said Disney failed to respect his beliefs as a member of the Congregation of Universal Wisdom, a group that rejects vaccines and medical treatments. He testified that taking the vaccine would go against his faith, calling it “a spiritual war” and “against God’s teachings.”
Disney’s legal team questioned the sincerity of Dunbar’s beliefs, noting that he regularly used synthetic testosterone and other prescription drugs that his own faith considered “sacrilegious.” During closing arguments, attorney Maria Rodriguez presented a list of 37 medications Dunbar had taken, arguing that his objections were not truly religious.
Dunbar admitted on the stand that he was “not perfect” but said he had followed what he believed was right. “Take my cars, my money — I don’t care. You have to leave here with your soul intact. This is my spiritual test and I passed,” he said.
Since leaving 9-1-1, Dunbar said he struggled financially and couldn’t find steady work. “I’m underwater. I’ve spent my entire retirement. This has taken my life into a hole financially that I will never be able to get out of,” he said, holding back tears.
Disney called Dr. Glenn Braunstein, a medical expert, who testified that claims about the vaccine containing fetal cells or “foreign objects” were false, calling them “ridiculous.”
Dunbar’s attorney, Scott Street, argued that his client’s beliefs were sincere even if they differed from mainstream religion. “What matters is whether he is true to himself and true to his belief,” he told jurors.
After the verdict, 20th Television released a statement saying the decision confirmed that the company acted “fairly and lawfully.” Outside the court, Dunbar simply said, “God still won today.”
SOURCE: blacknews.com