One Of The Biggest Soap Operas Of All Time Is Facing A Crucial Lawsuit
More drama for the drama!
While the drama in General Hospital has always played out in front of the cameras, the series is now finding itself caught up in a whirlwind scandal after the last “cut!” has been shouted for the day. Two of the show’s crew members, James and Timothy Wahl, are taking ABC to court after they were fired for refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. While many in Hollywood stepped up to be given their dose of the vaccine in order to get back to work faster, the Wahls put forth the claim that it was their right to turn down the preventative measure due to “unprecedented restrictions on liberty.” The two join another General Hospital alum, Ingo Rademacher, in being fired due to vaccination protocols and, in fact, have hired on the same lawyers to take up their case.
The vaccine mandate was passed down by ABC last summer – calling on all members of their productions to undergo the vaccination treatments in hopes of stopping the spread. As the heads of the construction shop and special effects department for General Hospital, the Wahls pushed for a religious exemption from the vaccine administering, but were shut down. This week, the duo took their complaint to the Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming that the network’s “actions were unlawful.” They also issued concern over ABC’s handling of the situation which the Wahls saw as pressuring “medical treatment” on everyone on the payroll, including those who didn’t want it.
Continuing on, the General Hospital SPX leaders claimed that regardless of the soap opera’s belief system, they should have allowed for “religious exemptions” for those asking for one. They also cited the allegation that production pushed them to further explain their religious beliefs and asked questions regarding their spiritual standings by adding that those in charge should not have doubted the “sincerity” of their religious backgrounds. Rounding it out, the attorneys stated their case was an attack on personal rights and religious freedom.
The case gets even more sticky as down the line, ABC made the decision to drop their vaccination mandate, something the Wahls are saying was unair to them as the studio still didn’t allow their request to be granted. Adding to their allegations, the General Hospital crew members stated that they shouldn’t need to receive the shot as some of those who have taken it have still gotten ill with the virus. Although this is true, scientifically speaking, the CDC reveals that the vaccine has been shown to help stave off infection and make the symptoms of the deadly illness less intense than without.
For the Wahl’s case, they’ll just need to wait and see if their claims will win the argument against ABC. In the ongoing pandemic world, General Hospital isn’t the only production to get swept up in the vaccination argument. From Disney to Fox to 20th Television, it seems studios of all shapes and sizes are now being forced to go head to head with those who don’t agree with the protocols facing the industry today. And as new COVID variants seem to pop up daily, it looks like we’ll need to find more solutions as to what the new normal will look like as we march onward.
