Two lawsuits filed in California allege that Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, the family‑friendly dinner‑theater chain with ten “castles” across the United States and Canada, fosters a workplace environment of animal cruelty, sexual harassment and gender‑based discrimination at its Buena Park, California location.
Allegations from former cast members
Kaitlyn Farrell, a former “queen” who worked at the Buena Park castle for five years, says she resigned in February 2024 because of “intolerable” conditions. In her complaint filed in Orange County Superior Court, she describes a “two‑tiered” culture that treats female cast members as a lesser class of employee. Farrell alleges unwanted sexual advances are “normalized,” that complaints are dismissed with indifference, and that a manager deliberately sabotaged her costume to cause a wardrobe malfunction during a live show.
Farrell also claims she was the target of a cyber‑bullying and doxxing campaign after she participated in a union strike in February 2023. Anonymous social‑media accounts allegedly posted her dating history, sexually derogatory captions and photoshopped images of her on semi‑nude cartoon characters. The lawsuit further alleges that employees traveled to her secondary workplace at another theme park to physically intimidate her.
Earlier claims of animal mistreatment
In a 2019 lawsuit, former cast member Bethany Regan reported that the head horse trainer whipped horses unnecessarily, leaving large welts, and that some horses were over‑worked, dehydrated and even died. Regan says she was warned that the trainer was a close friend of the company owner and that any complaints could trigger retaliation. The case was settled in 2020, with the terms undisclosed.
Company response and contrasting employee view
Medieval Times has not responded to requests for comment on the current lawsuits. However, former employee Bill Elliot, who worked as a knight at the same Buena Park castle for more than a dozen years, says the company “took care of us” with decent pay, full‑time hours, overtime, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, and a 401(k) plan. Elliot characterizes the recent allegations as “false claims” driven by individuals seeking attention and financial gain.
Legal context
Both lawsuits were filed in California state courts and allege violations of state labor laws, anti‑discrimination statutes and animal‑welfare regulations. The plaintiffs seek damages for emotional distress, lost wages and punitive relief, as well as injunctive orders to change workplace practices.
What this means for the community
If the claims are proven, the lawsuits could prompt broader scrutiny of how family‑oriented entertainment venues manage employee safety and animal welfare. Local labor advocates note that the cases underscore the importance of robust reporting mechanisms and union protections for workers in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
