The Los Angeles Kings have suspended the man who portrays the Kings’ “Bailey” lion mascot following a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former member of the hockey team’s ice crew.
Tim Smith, the now-suspended mascot, has also served as a senior manager of game presentation and events for the Kings, ESPN reported.
TMZ Sports reported Thursday that a woman who was hired onto the team’s ice crew in 2018 filed the suit against Smith, the team, and the Kings owner AEG.
The lawsuit is seeking over $1 million in damages, the report added.
According to the outlet, the woman alleges that Smith made lewd jokes and inappropriate sexual comments before firing her when she confronted and condemned his actions.
The woman, identified by the alias Jane Doe, claims that a team official asked her to come back but the alleged harassment continued and she ultimately quit the job.
“We are aware of the recently-filed lawsuit alleging misconduct by one of our employees,” the Kings said in a statement to ESPN. “The LA Kings take these allegations very seriously and, as an organization, we believe that everyone has the right to work in an environment free from any form of harassment or discrimination.”
The Kings’ statement confirmed Smith’s suspension and said the matter would be investigated thoroughly.
Smith has worked for the King since 2007 and previously faced a harassment lawsuit in 2017 after a man alleged he grabbed his buttocks on an elevator ride. The suit was settled in 2018, according to ESPN.