Exec Producer Sues Al Roker For Allegedly Ignoring DEI and Having White People Write Scripts

A former executive producer for Al Roker's production company is suing the anchor over allegedly failing to meet diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) standards.

The producer, Bill Schultz, filed a lawsuit against Roker's and Al Roker Entertainment in which he claims he was "wrongfully and illegally targeted" for termination in 2023 after calling out the company’s failure to properly follow a diversity initiative, according to a court document The Hollywood Reporter published.

Schultz claims Roker, a black man,  "callously disregarded" a PBS DEI program that mandated Schultz’ animated series "Weather Hunters" include black writers. 

He says Al Roker Entertainment sought to undermine said mandate by having black writers "only touch up" scripts that white writers wrote.

"Instead of giving the chances to BIPOC writers as had been the plan, the story editor, repeating a strategy previously advocated and backed by Al Roker Entertainment management in writing, wanted to have ‘non-BIPOC’ writers write the stories, and then bring on a ‘BIPOC’ writer and after the stories/episodes [were] shaped, they could be ‘hand[ed] off to BIPOC writers,'" the lawsuit read.

If true, the production company hired the most qualified writers regardless of their skin color. 

Damn, Al Roker Entertainment.

"After a black producer was reprimanded for opposing this idea, Schultz spoke out in defense of the DEI policy and made his opinion known to Roker and other executives, according to the suit," added Fox News Digital in a summarization of the suit. 

"He was later sent a notice accusing him of what the suit described as "fabricated" contractual breaches and was suspended and fired soon after."

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 17: Al Roker attends the 6th Annual Blue Jacket Fashion Show at Moonlight Studios on February 17, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

DEI remains a gray area, legally.  

Lawsuits like Schultz's alleged company skirt mandates by giving black employees roles in name only. Other plaintiffs have brought forth legal action by demonstrating how DEI initiatives openly disfavor non-preferred groups, particularly white people. 

In March, a script coordinator for the television series "SEAL Team" filed a lawsuit against CBS Studios for carrying diversity quotas that discriminate against straight white men. 

A month prior, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission commissioner Andrea R. Lucas accused Mark Cuban of illegal hiring practices by using race as a "motivating factor," thus violating Title VII law.

"As a general rule, race/sex can’t even be a ‘motivating factor’—nor a plus factor, tie-breaker, or tipping point. It’s important employers understand the ground rules here," said Lucas.

And yet, the campaign for our sitting president recently posted a job opening for a DEI Director for the sole purpose of ensuring race is a factor in the hiring practices for forthcoming members of the election team.

The job pays up to $120,000 a year. But, wait, there's a catch. You must be "up to date’ on COVID-19 vaccination status as prescribed by the CDC as a condition of employment" to apply.

Ultimately, black people do not need preferential treatment to qualify for high-paying positions. Black people are not inferior, as most DEI programs suggest. Likewise, white people should not have to atone for perceived historical biases from generations ago.

DEI is a form of Excused Racism, the presumption that society must openly discriminate against certain racial groups to achieve outright racial impartiality.

DEI is racist. It should be illegal. It's wrong. It's unnecessary. 

Nonetheless, Schultz demands that Roker and his company pay him $10 million in damages plus attorneys’ fees. Fox News Digital reached out to Al Roker Entertainment for a comment.