Former Simpsons composer accuses producers of continuing to lie about why he was fired in ongoing lawsuit
The former Simpsons composer sued Fox in 2019, claiming he was fired over disability and age
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Your support makes all the difference.Former Simpsons composer Alf Clausen has accused the show’s producers of continuing to lie about why he was fired, in an ongoing lawsuit.
Clausen, now 79-years-old, sued Fox in 2019, claiming that he was sacked due to his “perceived disability and age”.
In a new statement released via Deadline, the composer's attorneys have accused the defendants of using “lies and deceit” to hide the real reason Clausen was fired from the show in 2017.
Clausen's lawyers are responding to the defendant's attempts to get the case dismissed, saying that his firing was due to “discriminatory animus” to provide accommodations for an “old, ailing employee”.
Earlier this year, Simpsons showrunner Matt Selman said in a legal filing that the show’s “creative possibilities were limited by Clausen’s abilities”.
According to a statement filed by producer Richard Sakei, tensions between Clausen and Fox came to a head in 2016, when a hip-hop themed Simpsons episode titled “The Great Phatsby” was being made.
Sakei said his fellow producer, James L Brooks, “questioned whether Clausen was the right person to prepare rap music and questioned his work more generally”. The situation forced them to get Empire’s Jim Beanz to help Clausen with the music for the rap-themed episode.
Responding to suggestions that Clausen was incapable of a modern music style, the composer’s lawyers have said, if that were the case, there would be “one email, text message, instant message or internal memo mentioning it during his 27 years with the show”.
There will be a hearing on 5 August to decide whether the lawsuit will proceed.
During his 27 years working on The Simpsons, Clausen scored more than 560 episodes and was nominated for 21 Emmys, winning two.
The Independent has contacted the Fox network for comment.
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