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Veteran showrunner Tim Doyle Last year, he was publicly rebuked by the Writers Guild of America West after a panel of judges found him guilty of posting racist images on Facebook.
“The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) has filed a complaint against member Tim Doyle under Article 10 of our Constitution and Bylaws (the “Constitution”),” union officials wrote in a message sent to members on Thursday. “The complaint alleges that on August 9, 2023, Doyle posted an image to a WGAW member Facebook group that members perceived as a racist and offensive depiction of a lynching. Doyle is accused of violating Article 10A, Section 1 of our Constitution by engaging in conduct detrimental to the welfare of the union and treating other members unfairly.”
The Guild’s adjudication committee found that “Mr Doyle’s posting of August 9, 2023 was detrimental to the welfare of the Guild and constituted an unfair trade practice.” Based on the adjudication committee’s report, WGA West The committee found that “Mr Doyle’s conduct merits public condemnation.”
Doyle could not immediately be reached for comment. The WGA West email message laying out the accusations against Doyle sparked mixed reactions among reporters and others on social media.
Doyle’s posts sparked outrage in August 2023, at a time when thousands of TV and film writers were on strike for more than three months. He apologized. In an interview with The Hollywood ReporterHe said he was “very sorry” and claimed his “silly joke” had been misunderstood.
The image at the heart of the case was described as a black and white drawing of a man hanging upside down from a tree, evoking images of lynching in the minds of many readers, who immediately condemned Doyle.
The WGA’s practice of conducting private investigations and disciplinary actions against its members has long been controversial among its members. After the 2007-2008 strike, then-Tonight Show host Jay Leno was grilled in court over jokes he made on air during the strike. However, he was ultimately acquitted..
Doyle’s extensive television work includes sitcoms Rules of Engagement, Last Man Standing, Dr. Ken, Speechless and Better Off Ted. Most recently, he served as showrunner and creator of Schooled, a short-lived spinoff of ABC’s family comedy The Goldbergs.
