Three former crew members of the short-lived ABC drama Doctor Odyssey are suing Disney and its subsidiary 20th Century Studios, accusing them of turning a blind eye to months of sexual harassment and retaliation on set. The lawsuit, filed by three women, paints a disturbing picture of a toxic work environment allegedly fueled by misconduct and protected by silence.
According to a Variety report, the women claim they were subjected to “an unchecked campaign of sexual harassment” during their time on the show. The assistant prop master at the center of the lawsuit allegedly made repeated sexual jokes, innuendos, inappropriate comments, and gestures—sometimes even showing sexual images. One incident cited in the complaint includes the man “openly grabbing a visiting female employee’s buttocks.”
Even more alarming, the lawsuit alleges that Disney and 20th Century knowingly hired the assistant prop master and his wife, the lead prop master, despite having prior knowledge of his troubling history. The plaintiffs say that back in 2010, while working on the hit series House, the same individual faced formal allegations of sexual harassment. At the time, he was fired after the matter reached Human Resources.
But the lawsuit claims the issues didn’t end there. After the women reported his behavior during Doctor Odyssey, the man was once again terminated—but retaliation quickly followed. His wife, who remained on set as the lead prop master, allegedly began targeting the women with vindictive behavior. Soon after, the entire prop department was laid off.
The plaintiffs believe this wasn’t a coincidence—they say they’ve been effectively blacklisted by Disney for speaking up. One of the women stated they felt “punished for doing the right thing.” The lawsuit argues that the entertainment giant created a culture where harassment could thrive and whistleblowers were silenced.
The suit comes amid increasing scrutiny on how major studios handle internal misconduct and harassment claims. While Disney has yet to publicly respond, the case is expected to draw serious attention as it moves through the courts.