Rockmond Dunbar, known for his role on 9-1-1, became visibly upset Friday when he lost his legal case against Disney. Witnesses reported he called out for his family while the court announced the decision.
A Los Angeles jury didn’t side with the actor’s argument that he was fired from the Ryan Murphy series by 20th Television (owned by Disney) because he wouldn’t get the COVID-19 vaccine due to his religious beliefs.
Romany Malco, who played Michael on the Fox series 9-1-1, was unexpectedly removed from the show in late 2021. His character was the ex-husband of Angela Bassett’s character.
This happened after he asked for both a medical and religious exemption from the show’s and Disney’s rule that all actors be vaccinated against COVID-19.
In 2022, Dunbar filed a lawsuit against the company, stating they didn’t respect his religious beliefs. He’s a member of the Congregation of Universal Wisdom, a group that objects to vaccines and some medical treatments.
When the verdict was read, Dunbar put his head in his hands before reacting verbally, per Variety.
He exclaimed “Oh my God!” repeatedly, then turned to his family watching from the gallery. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “We’ll be alright.”
Over the course of the four-day trial in Los Angeles, Dunbar explained his view that the COVID-19 vaccine is dangerous and violates religious beliefs.
‘Man created the COVID-19 vaccine to separate you from God,’ he testified, per the outlet.
This conflict isn’t just physical; it’s a battle between what’s right and what’s wrong, between good and evil. I chose to fight for the side of good, to stand with God, and to draw strength from a higher power.
According to Variety, Disney’s lawyers, with Maria Rodriguez leading the effort, challenged Dunbar’s trustworthiness.
Rodriguez pointed out that Dunbar regularly uses synthetic testosterone and anastrozole, drugs the leader of the Congregation of Universal Wisdom called ‘sacrilegious’.
Dunbar acknowledged on the stand that he is ‘far from perfect.’
During her final statement, Rodriguez detailed the 37 different medications the patient had taken. She admitted the situation was far from ideal, stating it wasn’t even close to being resolved.
The actor called his experience on 9-1-1 a ‘dream job,’ saying it felt ‘like winning the lottery.’
He shared that he made $100,000 per episode, even those where his character wasn’t actually in them.
Since being written off the show, Dunbar said he has struggled financially.
He explained he was completely overwhelmed by debt. ‘I’ve used up all my retirement savings,’ he said, ‘and I’m in a financial hole with no way to climb out.’
Still, he defended his refusal to take the vaccine, saying he acted on God’s instruction.
Dunbar clarified that he doesn’t oppose vaccines in general, but he has chosen not to vaccinate his children.
Scott Street, Dunbar’s attorney, emphasized that his client was genuinely devoted to his faith, pointing to the significant risks Dunbar took with his career as proof.
Honestly, I don’t even care *what* he believes, as long as he genuinely believes it! There are so many different viewpoints out there, right? Some are logical, some are… well, not so much, but who am I to judge? The important thing is that *he* feels it’s right. And it absolutely infuriates me when anyone, especially his work, tries to interfere with what he thinks. His beliefs are his own, and nobody should be questioning them!
Rodriguez, in her closing, emphasized that Disney was not there to ‘judge religion.’
She still wondered if Dunbar’s concerns were based on genuine religious beliefs, or if he was just using religion as an excuse to avoid getting vaccinated.
Following the court’s decision, 20th Television issued a statement expressing their satisfaction with the verdict, confirming they treated Mr. Dunbar fairly and legally.
Outside the courtroom, Dunbar offered a final word: ‘God still won today.’
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2025-10-18 19:49