Disney Sues YouTube Over Hiring of Former Exec Justin Connolly

JB Quinnon
May 22
2 min read

In a bold legal move, The Walt Disney Company has filed a lawsuit against YouTube and its newly appointed executive, Justin Connolly, alleging breach of contract, unfair competition, and interference with contractual obligations.

The lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court, comes just days after Connolly’s abrupt exit from Disney to join YouTube as the new head of sports and media partnerships.

Connolly, a Disney veteran with over two decades of experience at both Disney and ESPN, was serving as President of Platform Distribution. His responsibilities included overseeing streaming distribution and affiliate agreements—a role that gave him access to sensitive strategy and licensing data, especially regarding Disney’s future sports media plans.

Disney claims Connolly’s transition to YouTube, where he will manage sports content and media relations, is not only a conflict of interest but also a direct violation of a three-year employment contract that was set to expire in 2027. Disney is particularly concerned that Connolly's deep knowledge of their negotiation tactics could unfairly benefit YouTube in any ongoing licensing discussions.

This legal action arrives at a critical time for Disney, as the company prepares to roll out a standalone ESPN streaming service by the end of the year. Losing a key executive with insider knowledge just before a major launch raises the stakes significantly.

As of now, YouTube has not issued a public response to the lawsuit.

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