A man has agreed to arbitrate his multimillion-dollar claims that he was wrongfully demoted from executive producer to consulting producer for the “Naked and Afraid” reality television series on the Discovery Channel earlier this year and that his pay was cut after he acquired brain cancer that returned even after he had surgery.
The man, identified in a Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit only as Sean F., named Lionsgate Alternative Television LLC, Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. and other entities as defendants. But on Wednesday, his attorneys filed court papers with Judge Alison Mackenzie stating that defense lawyers provided evidence to them on Aug. 8 that Sean F. had signed multiple agreements in the past agreeing to arbitrate any work-related disputes.
Six days later, both sides agreed to proceed to arbitration, according to Sean F.’s attorney’s court papers.
Mackenzie placed a stay on the lawsuit and scheduled a post-arbitration status conference for Aug. 19, 2026.
In his lawsuit filed July 25 seeking compensatory and punitive damages exceeding $10 million, Sean F. alleged medical condition and disability discrimination, failure to accommodate and engage in the interactive process, retaliation and failure to prevent discrimination. The plaintiff was an executive producer on the “Naked and Afraid” show on the Discovery Channel in 2014-17 and again starting in 2022.
Sean F. was diagnosed with brain cancer in May 2023, underwent surgery that same month and then began radiation and chemotherapy treatments. The regimen was initially successful, but his cancer returned in September 2024. The companies at first accommodated Sean F. for his condition, but later refused to do so and demoted him to consulting producer while also reducing his compensation in May, the suit alleged.
Sean F. has suffered emotional distress and medical expenses, according to the suit.