On Friday, Rockmond Dunbar, previously of the show 9-1-1, expressed his distress in court after his lawsuit against Disney was dismissed, calling out for his family as the verdict was announced.

A jury in Los Angeles ruled against Dunbar, who alleged that he was dismissed by 20th Television, a subsidiary of Disney, from the series co-created by Ryan Murphy due to his refusal to comply with COVID-19 vaccination requirements on religious grounds.

Dunbar, known for his role as Michael—the ex-husband of Angela Bassett’s character on the Fox series—was abruptly removed from the show in late 2021.

This decision followed his attempts to obtain both a medical and a religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination rules enforced by the show and Disney, which mandate vaccination for all actors.

In 2022, Dunbar filed a lawsuit against the company, arguing that the production did not respect his religious beliefs as a member of the Congregation of Universal Wisdom, a group that opposes vaccines and certain medical practices.

When the verdict was read, Dunbar put his head in his hands before reacting verbally, per Variety. 

Former 9-1-1 actor Rockmond Dunbar had a visceral reaction on Friday after losing his lawsuit against Disney , screaming out for his family in the courtroom as the decision was read; (pictured 2018)

An L.A. jury rejected the star’s claim that Disney-owned 20th Television fired him from the Ryan Murphy co-created series because he refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds

He then shouted, ‘Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!’ before turning to his wife and children in the gallery. ‘I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. We’ll be okay.’   

During the four-day trial in Los Angeles, Dunbar laid out his belief that the COVID-19 vaccine is both harmful and against God’s teachings.

‘Man created the COVID-19 vaccine to separate you from God,’ he testified, per the outlet.

‘This is a spiritual war. This is a war of evil against good. I stood on the side of good. I stood on the side of God. I stood on the shoulders of God.’

Disney’s legal team, led by Maria Rodriguez,  pushed back, calling Dunbar’s credibility into question, according to Variety.

Rodriguez highlighted that Dunbar routinely takes synthetic testosterone and anastrozole — treatments that the Congregation of Universal Wisdom leader described as ‘sacrilegious.’

Dunbar acknowledged on the stand that he is ‘far from perfect.’

In her closing argument, Rodriguez ran through a list of 37 medications he has taken. ‘This is way far from perfect,’ she said. ‘This isn’t even close.’

When the verdict was read, Dunbar put his head in his hands before reacting verbally, 

He then shouted, ‘Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!’ before turning to his wife and children in the gallery. ‘I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. We’ll be okay’ (pictured October 13)

The actor also described his time on 9-1-1 as a ‘dream job’, adding, ‘It was like winning the lottery.’ 

He also revealed he was earning $100,000 per episode, including for episodes in which his character did not appear.

Since being written off the show, Dunbar said he has struggled financially. 

‘I’m underwater. I’ve spent my entire retirement,’ he said. ‘This has taken my life into a hole financially that I will never be able to get out of.’

Still, he defended his refusal to take the vaccine, saying he acted on God’s instruction.

Dunbar stressed that he is ‘not an anti-vaxxer,’ though he admitted his children have not received any vaccines.

Dunbar’s lawyer, Scott Street, argued that his client’s willingness to risk his career underscores the sincerity of his religious beliefs. 

‘What matters is whether he is true to himself and true to his belief,’ Street said. ‘It doesn’t have to be right. There are plenty of beliefs that are right, wrong, kooky — who cares? What matters is whether you believe them. It’s not up to your employer to question your belief.’

Dunbar sued the company in 2022, claiming the production failed to accommodate his religious beliefs as a member of the Congregation of Universal Wisdom, which opposes vaccines and certain medical interventions

Rodriguez, in her closing, emphasized that Disney was not there to ‘judge religion.’

Still, she questioned whether Dunbar’s objections were truly religious or simply a way to avoid the vaccine. 

After the verdict, 20th Television released a statement: ‘We are pleased with today’s verdict, which affirms that 20th Television acted fairly and lawfully toward Mr. Dunbar.’

Outside the courtroom, Dunbar offered a final word: ‘God still won today.’