Last week, 50 ABC News staffers were let go as The Walt Disney Company institutes layoffs. Now, those employees have reportedly sought out legal advice as their next option.
According to The Daily Beast’s Lachlan Cartwright, “notoriously aggressive Hollywood lawyer” Bryan Freedman has been in contact with former ABC News reporter Chris Vlasto, Senior Vice President of Newsgathering Wendy Fisher, Senior Vice President of Talent Galen Gordon, Vice President of Talent Mary Noonan, Executive Editorial Producer Heather Riley, and Vice President of Communications Alison Rudnick.
The group took issue with the notion that moments after the final person had been notified of their job loss, the names of the executives removed and an accompanying memo had been shared with Variety.
Cartwright’s report claims family members of the staffers found out about the reductions due to the report. It also details internal strife surrounding the job that ABC News President Kim Godwin is doing. Consternation includes what some viewed as frivolous spending as The Walt Disney Company continues reductions.
In total, the company plans to remove 7,000 jobs with the hope of saving $5.5 billion after its stock price dropped by 44% in 2022.
