Former employees of the dinner-theater chain Medieval Times have come forward with allegations of a pervasive culture of sexual harassment and animal abuse, painting a picture of a "knights will be knights" environment within the company's North American locations. The claims, detailed in a report by Vanity Fair, stem from staff at multiple castles, including the Lyndhurst, New Jersey, and Buena Park, California, venues.
Workers described a locker-room atmosphere that they likened to a fraternity, where hazing of new hires was common. Sean Quigley, a former lord chancellor at the Lyndhurst castle, stated that male performers would engage in inappropriate behavior in shared locker rooms. Another former employee at the Scottsdale, Arizona, location recounted being forced to endure strenuous physical activity to the point of vomiting during his initial weeks on the job.
Female employees reported experiencing persistent harassment. Lexi-Lynn Taylor, a former queen at the Buena Park castle, alleged that multiple knights subjected her to harassment and unwanted physical contact, with one performer refusing to accept her rejections. The overall environment was described as one where casual sexual encounters were frequent and could lead to difficult situations. Taylor also reported being subjected to slut-shaming after a consensual kiss at a holiday party, being called a "knight's mattress" and "ye old whore."
One former employee shared an incident where, after reporting harassment, a manager allegedly instructed a subordinate to alter costumes to induce "wardrobe malfunctions in front of live audiences." In another instance, a former Scottsdale employee who corroborated a coworker's harassment claim said he was reassigned and given a pay raise instead of the accused party facing disciplinary action, suggesting that such behavior was sometimes implicitly rewarded.
The treatment of the animals used in the performances also came under scrutiny. Former stable hands reported witnessing horses being whipped, resulting in visible welts. Sidney Setzer, an ex-stable hand, stated that horses would return from training sessions with injuries. Bethany Regan filed a lawsuit in 2019 alleging that a trainer's excessive whipping of horses led to injuries and the death of one animal; this case was settled out of court in 2020.
These workplace issues contributed to labor disputes, with employees at the Buena Park and Lyndhurst castles organizing unions in 2022. They eventually joined the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA). The Buena Park employees went on strike in February 2023, which lasted nine months, during which the company reportedly brought in performers from other locations to fill in. The strike concluded in November 2023, with some employees reporting continued hostility and job role changes. The union at Buena Park did not secure a contract, and the AGVA reportedly withdrew its support in 2024.
In a separate development, a National Labor Relations Board judge ruled in favor of the employees, finding that Medieval Times had violated federal labor law in its efforts to undermine the union campaign. The company has since appealed this ruling. Medieval Times did not immediately respond to requests for comment.