Beneath the veneer of chivalry and feasting at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, a dark undercurrent of alleged animal cruelty, pervasive sexual harassment, discrimination, bullying, and retaliation for reporting abuse has been exposed by former employees. Lawsuits filed by ex-cast members paint a grim picture of a workplace culture where female performers are allegedly treated as a “lesser class” and subjected to normalized, unwanted sexual advances and gender-based misconduct that management dismisses with indifference. One former “queen” claims she was targeted with cyberbullying, doxxing, and even stalking after participating in a union strike and speaking out, with her complaints allegedly being brushed aside by the company’s legal counsel as “weird allegations.” Another whistleblower alleges she was fired for voicing concerns about animal welfare, detailing accusations of horses being whipped until they bled, overworked to the point of dehydration, and in one alleged instance, a horse died due to these conditions. While the company has not commented on the lawsuits, a former knight defended the company, citing good pay and benefits, and suggested that accusers are motivated by financial gain and falsely labeling the environment as “toxic.” However, others who have worked with dinner theater performers over the years corroborate the existence of a callous attitude towards female employees and a lack of proper oversight in handling complaints, while also emphasizing that horses, when treated correctly, can genuinely enjoy performing.
Adapted from: U.S. News Today on Fox News
