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Kings fire Bailey the lion actor amid $1 million sexual harrassment lawsuit

Amid a sexual harassment lawsuit and investigation, the Los Angeles Kings have terminated the contract of Tim Smith, the actor behind mascot Bailey the lion, according to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski.

Smith, who also worked as the Kings’ senior manager of game presentation and events, had been suspended after a former member of the team’s Ice Crew filed suit against him in August. The lawsuit also triggered an investigation by the team.

From ESPN:

"We are not in a position to provide further details or comments on this matter due to pending litigation," the team said in a statement.

Smith had reportedly worked for the Kings since 2007 and faced a previous harassment lawsuit in 2017 after a man alleged that Smith grabbed his buttocks in an elevator. The suit was settled in 2018.

Ex-Ice Crew member seeking $1 million in lawsuit

Los Angeles Kings mascot Bailey skates on the ice before an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
The actor in the Bailey the lion suit has been fired. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)

The second lawsuit against Smith was filed by a women under the alias Jane Doe, who reportedly worked under Smith in 2018 when he oversaw the Ice Crew. She reportedly alleged that Smith routinely made sexually charged comments about her.

She claims that once she made it clear that such comments and advances were unwanted, Smith fired her in retaliation. She said that a team official then asked her to return and promised to shield her while acknowledging Smith’s conduct, but his behavior continued.

In one alleged incident, Doe claimed Smith put his crotch in her face while thrusting his hips in the mascot locker room, leading her to quit for good.

Smith, the Kings and AEG, the company that owns the team, are reportedly defendants in Doe’s lawsuit, which is seeking more than $1 million in damages for sexual harassment and retaliation.

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