A freelance scriptwriter for CBS' successful "SEAL Team" TV series has filed suit against CBS and Paramount, accusing them of discriminating against him, as a white, heterosexual male, by repeatedly passing him over for a job as a staff writer on the show in favor of other non-white, LGBTQ or female writers, which he says are more desirable to CBS in the name of "diversity."
On Feb. 29, writer Brian Beneker filed suit in Los Angeles federal court against CBS Studios Inc., CBS Entertainment Group LLC and Paramount Global. The lawsuit alleges that these entities discriminated against him on the grounds of his race, sex, and sexual orientation.
Beneker claims that despite his consistent contributions to the 'SEAL Team' series as a script coordinator and freelance writer, he was repeatedly overlooked for a staff writer position in favor of less qualified candidates who were non-white, LGBTQ, or female. He accuses the defendants of prioritizing these groups in their hiring practices under the guise of diversity.
Beneker specifically noted that managers overseeing the hiring of writers for the show at CBS repeatedly told him they could not hire him as a staff writer, but then over the course of several seasons, hired significantly less experienced writers who were black, female or lesbian, or a combination of those demographics.
Beneker said he was told that he could not be hired as a staff writer because "he did not check any diversity boxes."
The lawsuit accuses CBS and Paramount of violations of federal civil rights laws.
Beneker claims the alleged discriminatory decisions by CBS have cost him more than $500,000 in lost income. He is asking the court to order CBS and Paramount to pay him at least $500,000, plus punitive damages for their alleged willful discriminatory acts, plus attorney fees.
Beneker is represented by attorneys John W. Howard and Scott J. Street, of the JW Howard firm, of San Diego; and Nicholas R. Barry and Ian Prior, of the America First Legal Foundation, of Washington, D.C.