Medieval Times is facing lawsuits from former employees who allege sexual harassment, gender discrimination, retaliation and animal cruelty at its dinner-theater castles. A former queen at the Buena Park, California, location says she endured workplace harassment, cyberbullying and doxxing after participating in a labor dispute. An earlier lawsuit alleged that horses were abused, overworked and denied adequate rest. The company did not respond to a request for comment on the newer lawsuit, while one former employee rejected the allegations as false.
| 1) | Former queen alleges harassment and discrimination |
| 2) | Cyberbullying claims follow labor dispute |
| 3) | Former employee disputes the allegations |
| 4) | Earlier lawsuit raised horse welfare concerns |
| 5) | Horse trainer describes industry-wide tensions |
Former queen alleges harassment and discrimination
A former cast member, Kaitlyn Farrell, filed a civil lawsuit in June in Orange County Superior Court after working at the Buena Park castle for about five years. She resigned in February 2024, alleging that conditions had become intolerable and that female cast members were treated as a lesser class of employee.
The complaint alleges that unwanted sexual advances were normalized, gender-based misconduct was dismissed and management failed to respond adequately to complaints. Farrell also says she was asked to act as a witness in a harassment investigation and later faced retaliation from the employee she reported. The lawsuit further alleges that a manager directed someone to remove stitching from her costume, which Farrell characterized as deliberate sabotage that could cause a wardrobe malfunction during a performance.
Cyberbullying claims follow labor dispute
Farrell says her treatment worsened after employees at the Buena Park location unionized and she took part in an unfair labor practice strike in February 2023. According to the lawsuit, she became the target of an online campaign involving anonymous accounts, personal information, sexually derogatory captions and altered images.
The complaint also alleges that employees traveled to Farrell’s secondary workplace at another theme park to intimidate her while she was working. After she made formal complaints, the lawsuit says a company attorney dismissed the cyberbullying and stalking allegations in a written letter. Farrell’s attorney, Charles Ludd Jr., said the claims would be presented in court. The allegations have not been resolved through a public ruling.
Former employee disputes the allegations
A former knight, William Elliot III, who worked at the Buena Park location for more than 12 years before leaving in 2015, rejected Farrell’s allegations. He said he had no complaints about the company and described the compensation and benefits as adequate, including full-time hours, overtime, health coverage and a retirement plan.
“The company took care of us,” Elliot said.
Elliot characterized the claims against the company as false and suggested that former employees were seeking financial compensation. His comments represent his personal account and do not resolve the allegations in the pending lawsuit.
Earlier lawsuit raised horse welfare concerns
The newer workplace case follows a 2019 lawsuit by former employee Bethany Regan, who joined the Buena Park castle in 2013. Regan alleged that she was treated less favorably than male cast members and became concerned about the welfare of the horses used in performances.
Her complaint alleged that a head trainer whipped horses unnecessarily, leaving welts, and used training methods that caused bleeding. It also claimed that horses were overworked, denied sufficient rest and sometimes became dehydrated. Regan alleged that one horse died as a result. She said she reported the animal welfare concerns and unsafe working conditions for female performers, then was suspended for allegedly spreading rumors before her employment ended. The case was settled in 2020, and the terms were not made public.
Horse trainer describes industry-wide tensions
Yvonne Barteau, a former principal trainer and entertainment operations director at another Florida horse-themed dinner attraction, said she had worked with performers who moved between venues in the Orlando area. She described meeting both good and bad people in the industry and said management should intervene when inappropriate behavior occurs.
Barteau also cautioned that criticism of horse performances should distinguish between responsible training and abuse. Based on her experience with performance horses, she said some animals enjoy attention and performing, but emphasized that people working with animals must protect those unable to speak for themselves.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | A former Buena Park queen alleges sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation and online abuse. |
| 2 | The allegations followed union activity and a strike in February 2023. |
| 3 | A former knight disputes the claims and says he had a positive employment experience. |
| 4 | A 2019 lawsuit alleged horse abuse and unsafe conditions; it settled in 2020. |
| 5 | The company did not respond to a request for comment on the latest lawsuit. |
Summary
The lawsuits present serious but disputed allegations about workplace conduct and animal treatment at Medieval Times. The latest case remains an allegation, while the earlier horse welfare case ended in a confidential settlement. Accounts from former employees and an experienced horse trainer show sharply different views of working conditions and performance practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What allegations are made in the latest lawsuit?
The former Buena Park cast member alleges sexual harassment, gender discrimination, retaliation, cyberbullying, doxxing and intimidation.
What happened in the earlier animal welfare case?
A former employee alleged that horses were abused, overworked and denied adequate rest. The lawsuit was settled in 2020, with undisclosed terms.
Has Medieval Times responded to the latest claims?
The company did not respond to a request for comment described in the report. A former employee separately disputed the allegations.
