Former Peloton trainer Daniel McKenna has filed a $2 million lawsuit against his former employee and a company executive. McKenna claimed that he was “subject to a hostile work environment” after the company discriminated, harassed, and retaliated against him.

McKenna filed his lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court in the County of New York last week against both the company and its Chief Content Officer, Jennifer Cotter. His lawsuit alleges that the company’s behavior violated the New York City Human Rights law.

McKenna explains that he was hired by the company in December 2020 and worked as a trainer before he was wrongfully fired on September 12th of this year.

His lawsuit details that his recovery from a medical injury and the events following his injury largely prompted the wrongful termination. His lawsuit specifically names a company executive, Cotter, as an individual who retaliated against him during his recovery and return to work.

In April of this year, McKenna underwent surgery after suffering an injury while training. Despite being advised by his doctor to take a six-month recovery period, McKenna told his supervisors that he was ready to return to work by July. McKenna alleges that Cotter told him that had he taken short-term disability leave, he would have lost his job.

Because of his “unexpected surgery,” McKenna had concerns about taking the COVID-19 vaccine. His concern revolved around how the vaccine might impact his recovery. Because of his concerns, he asked the company if he could be excused from a company-wide vaccine mandate. It was because of this request McKenna alleges that Cotter “made disparaging and denigrating remarks directed" to and "about" him.

He adds that Cotter "categorically denied listening to or exploring the potential for a medical exemption for Plaintiff's vaccination given his individualized medical and health state." As a result, McKenna eventually received the vaccine admitting that he feared he would lose his job if he did not.

McKenna’s lawsuit also explains that he was the subject of "targeted discriminatory acts" by Cotter. McKenna describes that because he was of Irish descent and had a noticeable Irish accent, Cotter would target him specifically during staff meetings. The lawsuit details one incident in which “Cotter stated to Plaintiff that ‘nobody understands what you are saying, Daniel.’”

On several occasions, Cotter also allegedly says that she hoped McKenna was not “drunk” during meetings. Cotter later went on to say during a phone conversation that she was “mostly joking” about the remarks she made toward McKenna.

After teaching a class on September 11, McKenna explains that he was asked to join a Zoom meeting the following day. It was during this meeting that he was told he would be fired “effective immediately.” As part of his termination, Peloton offered McKenna a six-month severance package of $130,000. McKenna maintains that he was wrongfully terminated because he was never given warnings or explanations about any problematic behavior that would lead to his termination.

McKenna’s complaint explains that after Peloton proposed the severance package he refused to accept it "because Peloton held the misguided, unsubstantiated, and contractually illegal position that the termination was for cause."

As part of his lawsuit, McKenna is seeking half a million dollars in back and front pay, benefits, and pre-and post-judgment interest. He is also seeking an additional $300,000 in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages.