Because Isaiah Washington's "Blame T.R. Knight For Everything" interview tour isn't enough gay-bashing for network TV, a former CBS news producer is now alleging the network fired him for speaking out about being attacked for being gay.
According to an article by ABC News (a network that I'm sure feels no satisfaction at being out of the homophobia headlines for the day), Dick Jefferson was a broadcast producer for CBS weekend news when he was attacked, along with his partner, outside a nightclub in St. Maarten last April. Jefferson and his partner, also a CBS employee, spoke out against the St. Maarten police's slow response, and many major news outlets reported on the events. Jefferson says he was put on probation later that year for criticizing a colleague's work, and that CBS took issue with his involvement with an "advocacy cause." Jefferson was fired in November of last year.
Jefferson is seeking up to $50 million in damages, having been fired from his $225,000-a-year job. Whether or not he has a legal leg to stand on is anyone's question, but yuck, could things be looking any worse for CBS News? Don't be surprised if they finagle some way for Katie Couric to take the fall for this, killing two troublesome birds with one icky stone.
