Tomi Lahren, the incendiary, 24-year-old conservative commentator, has sued the Blaze and its founder, conservative media personality Glenn Beck, alleging the company retaliated against her by wrongfully terminating her contract after she publicly admitted she supports abortion rights.
Lahren, an avid Trump supporter who hosted the show “Tomi” on the Blaze, said while appearing on “The View” last month that it would be hypocritical of her to believe the government should decide what women should do with their bodies.
“You know what?” Lahren said. “I’m for limited government, so stay out of my guns, and you can stay out of my body as well.”
Days later, amid the immediate backlash from conservative writers and talk show hosts – including Beck – the Blaze’s human resources director told Lahren she was suspended indefinitely and need not return to the company’s offices, according to Lahren’s lawsuit, filed Friday in Dallas County Civil Court.
Later, she was told her employment was terminated, and her show pulled, but that the Blaze would continue to pay her, “presumably hoping they could find an exit strategy to sanitize their unlawful conduct,” the lawsuit alleged.
Lahren, who has made her name through fiery monologues and comments on social media, was instructed to remain silent and refrain from using her Facebook page.
In a statement released to reporters, the Blaze said “it is puzzling that an employee who remains under contract (and is still being paid) has sued us for being fired, especially when we continue to comply fully with the terms of our agreement with her.”
Lahren’s contract expires Sept. 30.
Lahren’s lawsuit said the Blaze’s legal counsel took the position that she was only suspended and that the company had a right to block any use and access by Lahren to her Facebook page, where she has 4.2 million followers. This conduct, she alleges, was intended to harass her and ultimately harm her brand, viewership and followers.
Employees at the Blaze also stretched yellow caution tape spelling an “X” on Lahren’s office and dressing room door and terminated her email account, according to the lawsuit. Beck and others at the Blaze “embarked on a public smear campaign” attacking her and “chastising her political views and opinions in a clear attempt to embarrass, humiliate, and undermine” Lahren’s reach to her audiences, the lawsuit alleges.
The suit requests a temporary restraining order protecting her right to freely express her views and stop the Blaze from destroying evidence related to the incident. It also asks for the immediate return and full access and control of her Facebook page.
Beck has not made any public comments in response to the lawsuit. But in the aftermath of Lahren’s March 17 comments on “The View,” Beck blasted Lahren’s explanation for her stance on abortion.
On Beck’s radio show the following Monday morning, he criticized her claim that her position was supported by the Constitution. He clarified that it did not matter to him whether Lahren supported abortion rights but rather, how she defends her support.
“Ideas are what are important,” Beck said. “And if you cannot defend the idea, no matter which side you’re on, if you can’t defend the idea, that leads to the second part of the discussion. Which is the people calling for Tomi to be fired.”
He also commented extensively about the ordeal on social media, tweeting that he has never and will never fire someone because of their point of view, “Left, right, center, baptist, Jewish to atheist. It is PRINCIPLES that matter.”
On March 23, he said he was “very proud” of how the Blaze was “handling itself.”
Beck tweeted: Sorry to disappoint but I am very proud of how the Blaze is handling itself. I believe I echo the feelings of most of the staff in Dallas.
Meanwhile, Lahren was “understandably disappointed, saddened and in shock for being suspended for freely expressing her opinions, which certainly reconcile with what is the law of the land in the United States i.e., a woman’s constitutional right to choose and in no way inconsistent with any of (Lahren’s) obligations under the Employment Contract,” the suit says.
On Friday, Lahren said on Twitter: “Lay down and play dead really isn’t my style.”
(c) 2017, The Washington Post
