Despite the over-sexualized teen queens pumped out by the network, when most people think of the Disney Channel, they don’t think of sexual harassment. However, the Walt Disney Company is being sued for sexual assault, battery, negligence, negligent hiring and many more charges by one Miss Kellie Rodriquez.
Rodriguez, her children and her extended family were audience members for taping of the channel’s popular series Good Luck Charlie this past December. The claims filed in the lawsuit states that she was spanked and kissed by an employee of the production against her will during her visit. That employee was stand-up comedian and the show’s warm-up act Ron Pearson, who bills himself as a clean comedian and who is a veteran of this post, as he’s done the same
Rodriquez’ suit has been filed against not only the Walt Disney Company but It’s a Laugh Productions (the show’s production company) and Pearson. According to the lawsuit, during a silly dance portion that occurred during the warm-up before the taping began, Person spanked Rodriquez while her back was to him. “This unwarranted and unconsented spanking was relentless, and did not cease until Plaintiff physically turned around to stop it,” the suit says, as reported by The Wrap.
Following the dance portion, Pearson asked for a kiss on the cheek from Rodriquez and she decided to comply; however, Pearson turned his head at the last second kissing Rodriquez fully on the mouth. Rodriguez’s suit claims that her “health, mental well-being, trust and confidence has [sic] been harmed.” Rodriguez is seeking unspecified damages including medical expenses, compensation for loss of earnings, legal costs and interest.
We get the feeling there’s a lot more to this story than is outlined in the lawsuit. A call to Pearson’s camp to request a comment has not been returned; an email requesting comment hasn’t been returned, either.
You can see the full lawsuit here.
