A former anchor on KCAL and KCBS has filed a $5 million lawsuit claiming he was fired because he was a white man. Jeff Vaughn is represented by America First Legal , the conservative legal group that has taken aim at diversity, equity and inclusion programs, calling them illegal “anti-white discrimination.” Vaughn worked at the CBS -owned station group for eight years, until his departure last September.
In the suit, he says he was never given a reason for his firing. “But it was obvious,” the suit states . “He was fired because he is an older, white, heterosexual, male.
” America First Legal also represents Brian Beneker, a script coordinator on “SEAL Team” who has sued CBS for failing to hire him for a writing job on the show. In that case, CBS has cited the First Amendment in support of its right to engage in diverse hiring practices. Both lawsuits cite CBS’ stated goal of having Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) representation reach 40% in its TV writers rooms in 2021-22 and 50% in 2022-23.
Vaughn’s suit also notes that Wendy McMahon, the CEO of CBS News, has been lauded for prioritizing DEI initiatives, and for hiring and promoting women and people of color. Before he was let go, Vaughn alleges that he was excluded from coverage of the 9/11 anniversary. He also states that he was left off of a billboard advertising the newscast in favor of his nonwhite and female colleagues, and that he was excluded from social events.
In 2023, the station.
