Assault, Arbitration, and Anxiety

Statement about my experience with ABC's Prank Panel

On September 22, 2022, while working off-camera as a creative consultant for ABC Television’s Prank Panel, I was chased down and assaulted with a stun gun. This act, courtesy of Executive Producer/celebrity Johnny Knoxville, was not consensual, unscripted, and a total surprise to me – as well as the dozens of crew, network staff and executives that witnessed it first hand. The immediate aftermath left me with a broken leg and a severely sprained ankle. This was my first time working with Knoxville and I did not and do not know him personally. I never consented to being physically touched, let alone with an electroshock assault weapon. I’m a writer, producer, sometimes performer and director. I have a healthy respect for stunt professionals, but no aspirations to be one.

Top of the food chain, Prank Panel was Executive Produced by Jimmy Kimmel, so I assumed the matter would be handled with integrity. But red flags began to pop up about a week later when I received a copy of the incident report, which failed to mention the stun gun or my assailant, stating “PT (patient?) was running/rolled ankle & fell” as well as the objectively insulting “Object causing injury: self.” When I challenged the production about the accuracy of the report, (I allege) they refused to address or acknowledge my concerns, essentially blaming me for what turned out to be permanent physical damage to my ankle. Distressed and alarmed by this intellectually dishonest (alleged) cover up, I decided to obtain legal counsel – for the first time in my life. 

There was at least one camera following Knoxville’s movements that captured the assault. The production has confirmed the footage exists. Yet almost two years later, despite repeated attempts by my attorney to view it, we have not been given access. This (alleged) breadcrumbing, combined with the blowback from the inciting attack, were the catalyst to several serious mental health diagnoses which have left a profound negative impact on my family life, self-esteem, and career. 

In May of 2024, I decided to file a lawsuit because of the (alleged) pattern of bad faith while attempting to secure a viewing of the footage. When I filed, I was told that the defense was on board to fast-track a mediation. Taking that at face value, I declined to make a personal statement and pulled back from doing media interviews. However, a few weeks ago I was informed that the defendants filed a petition to compel private arbitration. I learned of this on the same day the viral news story broke about Disney attempting to force arbitration in a wrongful death suit, apparently because the grieving widower plaintiff agreed to Disney+ terms and conditions several years prior. This combination of Disney-adjacent arbitration power moves were the incitation for yet another panic attack inspired by this matter. (Full disclosure, I also agreed to the Disney+ terms and conditions in order to watch The Mandalorian with my kids.)

Out of fear of retaliation, I wanted to keep this matter private. I had no intention to sue or speak publicly, let alone make it a criminal matter. All I wanted was truth in accountability for my injuries. But after almost two years of legal games, I’ve grown tired of the panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, elevated baseline anxiety, uncharacteristic bouts of depression, the burden these symptoms put on my family, my creativity, and the overall cold blooded indifference to my struggle from certain long-time collaborators. There is no reason to stay silent anymore. I’m done keeping secrets for powerful men and corporations that don’t give a shit about me, my family, my trauma, or anything outside of their own brand. Through it all – the production has remained committed to denying me a good faith acknowledgment for the violence that they (allegedly) enabled, failed to police, and ultimately covered up on their worksite. 

On Monday, August 26, I filed a report at the West Valley Community Police Station so a third party could investigate my claims. I am sick of pretending this didn’t happen, tired of the contempt for my right of consent, and the pushback I’ve endured for standing up for my basic bodily autonomy. I am a human being with agency, not a non-playable character from Grand Theft Auto. I’m also curious to find out what’s the story on the corporate side, specifically who or what is responsible (allegedly) for the decision to not acknowledge the stun gun attack – and directly blame me (allegedly) for my trauma on the accident report. I have authorized my attorneys to file a motion to compel discovery of the videotape that we believe will otherwise not be provided to us. To date, we have received an offer to merely “view” the video via a streaming link with a watermark splashed across the screen, and that’s only if we agree to sign a “Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement” first. We see these conditions as unreasonable.

Gaslighting is abuse. Now that I’ve experienced first hand how drastically it amplifies underlying trauma, remaining silent no longer serves me. Although it was difficult to come forward, it is also a relief to finally call out what I see as complicity in exploitative, down-punching workplace violence. I will not give up my Constitutional right for a trial (that they say I gave up by signing a document with an arbitration clause) just because powerful corporate bullies have (allegedly) made a game of leveraging my trauma to protect their image and celebrity assets. I have a lot more to say about this matter, and after recalling the incident with some eyewitnesses, I’m confident the withheld video evidence is as sufficiently brutal as I remember having experienced it first hand. I believe in truth and transparency, and the time has come for me to put sunlight on the dark secret ABC executives have (allegedly) tried to sweep under the rug for nearly two years. I want to see the footage. While we’re at it, empower the dozens of crew members and network staff who were eyewitnesses to share their accounts without fear of repercussions. Nobody is going to put words in my mouth on this matter. This production does not have the integrity or moral authority to dictate the narrative of my trauma. I’m nobody’s stooge – and as of today, no longer in the business of toeing the line for (alleged) bullies.