Aerial performer sues Disney claiming pregnancy cost her her job

A Florida ballerina has filed a lawsuit against Disney claiming that the company unfairly fired her as an aerial performer after she became pregnant with twins.

Krista Crowder filed the suit earlier this month in Orange Circuit Court alleging gender discrimination after she says she received a termination letter in June 2016, two weeks after she gave birth to her twin daughters. 

Crowder played the role of a bluebird during the Can You Feel The Love Tonight aerial show for Animal Kingdom’s the Lion King.

The married 33-year-old dancer, was has been an equity Disney performer since 2013, said in her suit that she stopped working in November 2015 because of her pregnancy, the Orlando Sentinel reports. She gave birth to her daughters on June 1, 2016, via a Caesarean section. 

Krista Crowder filed a lawsuit against Disney earlier this month alleging that she was unfairly fired after she gave birth to her twin daughters

Crowder (second from right) was working as a bluebird in the aerial show for Animal Kingdom's the Lion King at the time she became pregnant 

Crowder (second from right) was working as a bluebird in the aerial show for Animal Kingdom’s the Lion King at the time she became pregnant 

Krista Crowder sues Disney alleging she fired because she became pregnant

Crowder was working an aerial performer in the Lion King at the time she became pregnant

Crowder (pictured during a performance) said in her suit that she stopped working in November 2015 and received a termination letter in June 2016, two weeks after she gave birth 

On June 20 of that year Crowder said she received a termination letter. Crowder contacted Disney and asked if the letter was a mistake and was told she could return to her position, but would have to re-audition. 

‘The audition requirement was against Disney Parks protocol which should have only required a costume fit and a rehearsal,’ she said in the suit. 

Crowder said by the time her audition came around in October of 2016 she had dropped the 60 pounds she gained during her pregnancy, but was still told that she was no longer needed at the theme park. 

‘I worked my butt off,’ she said, according to the Sentinel. 

She said she received a final termination letter in August 2017. 

Crowder, pictured above with her husband, is claiming gender discrimination and is seeking more than $15,000 in damages 

Crowder, pictured above with her husband, is claiming gender discrimination and is seeking more than $15,000 in damages 

Crowder said at one point Disney told her to re-audition for the role but she received a second and final termination letter in August 2017 

Crowder said at one point Disney told her to re-audition for the role but she received a second and final termination letter in August 2017 

‘It’s what every ballet dancer in the city wants to do,’ she told the Sentinel in an interview. ‘It’s the show everyone puts on their list to go see when they go to Animal Kingdom. You can feel that as a performer.’

She added: ‘I miss it. That sense of accomplishment is hard to find for dance’. 

Crowder, who now works as a singer for Universal Orlando Resort and is pregnant with her third child, filed the suit against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts as well as Disney Worldwide Services. She is seeking more than $15,000 in damages. 

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Crowder said that she had tried working it out with Disney but was left with no other choice but to file a lawsuit. 

‘I’ve waited a long time and after trying to work it out, I had to go this route,’ she posted. ‘I’ve already had others reach out with similar stories so if you have input or experiences you’d like to share, please feel free! We can’t let Disney keep doing this!’ 

A spokesperson for Disney told the Sentinel that it would respond to Crowder’s allegations in court. 

‘We have a longstanding policy against workplace discrimination,’ the spokesperson said.  



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