Sam Wineman, a producer for Shudder’s “Queer for Fear,” is suing the streamer, parent company AMC Networks, and executive producer Bryan Fuller for sexual harassment. As well as creating a hostile work environment and retaliation when the Wineman spoke up about the situation. Fuller’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, is already threatening a countersuit for defamation and malicious prosecution.
“Defendant Bryan Fuller cultivated and maintained a hostile work environment as a result of harassment, discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault and retaliation from the years 2020 to 2022,” the suit claims.
“Mr. Fuller sexually assaulted plaintiff several times throughout the Steakhaus Production of Queer for Fear for AMC defendants and their streaming service Shudder,” the filing alleges.
The complaint is dated September 28th, but hit the Los Angeles Superior Court docket on October 4th. They are also seeking a jury trial to resolve the matter.
The suit goes on to give several very graphic instances of the alleged assaults and harassment by Fuller on set. Not just directed towards Wineman either, Fuller allegedly used homophobic slurs and gave graphic descriptions of sexual acts around others. There are also claims that producer Steak House aka Stacy Rallison made “anti-trans and racially insensitive remarks.”
This all may seem rather counterintuitive given the obvious subject matter of “Queer for Fear.” Which is a four-episode series that examines the history and role of LGBTQ+ artists in the horror and thriller genres. While Fuller is openly gay, we’d like to remind readers that doesn’t make him immune from using homophobic slurs and/or actions.
Wineman claims AMC and Shudder higher-ups were fully aware of the situation, and allowed it to continue. After he reported Fuller for “abuse …unlawful behavior and comments” and “preoccupation with masturbation” to Shudder VP Nick Lazo and others. Wineman was fired from production in August 2021.
“AMC defendants and executive producer defendants ignored all warning signs, facilitated and permitted Mr. Fuller’s unlawful conduct and ultimately ratified Mr. Fuller’s behavior and comments,” the 21-page complaint states. “Defendants’ final act of retaliation was reducing plaintiff’s earned credits when the production aired in or around September 30, 2022.” So the production allegedly added insult to injury by minimizing Wineman’s contributions to “Queer For Fear.”
AMC is still in the process of reviewing the complaint and has yet to issue any comment on the suit. Fuller’s lawyerhas already given some thoughts/threats on the matter.
“Make no mistake, Sam Wineman will be sued for defamation based on what are 100 percent probably false statements,” Freedman told Deadline.
“There is documented evidence which completely disproves the allegations against Bryan Fuller,” he added. “Wineman created this fictitious story long after his gross incompetence necessitated his removal in an effort to extort AMC, Shudder, Steakhaus and Bryan Fuller. He never raised any allegation of wrongdoing prior to his removal because he knew that this was absolute garbage. Sam Wineman just made the biggest mistake of his life and once the evidence comes out, he will forever be known as a pathological liar. Rest assured; a malicious prosecution lawsuit aimed directly at him is coming soon.”
You can read the full superior court filing here. But be advised parts of it contain mildly censored slurs and some are rather graphic.
