Apple sued by actor Brent Sexton over COVID vaccination mandate

Brent Sexton in 'The Killing', copyright: AMC 2010

A former "Deadwood" actor is suing Apple because he alleges the company rescinded a job offer over a COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

According to the suit filed against Apple by Brent Sexton ("Deadwood", "The Killing"), Apple required anyone working on an Apple TV+ production in Los Angeles to get the coronavirus vaccine and submit proof they did. The suit says Apple "trampled the rights" of those working to create content for the streaming service.

Sexton refused to take the coronavirus vaccine due to medical reasons, and, as a result, Apple rescinded a previous offer to star in a series for Apple TV+. MSN reports Sexton alleges this cost him nearly $600,000.

The actor is filing with a disability discrimination suit in the Los Angeles Superior Court. He is seeking an unspecified amount in compensatory and punitive damages.

As far as the role is concerned, Sexton auditioned to play the role of President Andrew Johnson in the upcoming Apple TV+ series "Manhunt." That show is meant to tell the story of the U.S. government's search for President Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth.

That audition took place back in February 2022. Sexton was offered the role a week later, which saw a promise of at least seven episodes and additional incentives.

Sexton's suit says he suffers from a platelet deficiency, but Apple still demanded he takes the COVID-19 vaccination, despite the risk to his health. Sexton says he would take regular tests, and had a doctor's note confirming the platelet deficiency.

Sexton says that he and his union were willing to pay for testing and that Apple would not have been held liable for any sickness he caught while on set.

The suit also notes that the series was being filmed in Georgia and that the state outlawed mandatory coronavirus vaccination policies in public employment. The state nudged private employers to do the same, while also providing alternatives to unvaccinated people.

Apple required frequent testing for its retail and corporate employees during the pandemic. The company also shut down a variety of retail stores throughout.