A former Chicago Blackhawks staff member has filed a lawsuit against the team, alleging he was wrongfully fired because of his sexual orientation.
Anthony Filomena, who worked as the Blackhawks’ Manager of Public Relations from June 2022 until May 2024, claims he was dismissed just one day after telling his supervisor that he believed he was being criticized for participating in a media interview due to being gay.
In his lawsuit, Filomena accuses Jerry Ferguson, the team’s Executive Vice President of Brand and Marketing, of violating Title VII and EEOC protections by treating him differently than other employees and discriminating against him for being a gay man.
According to the filing, Filomena had previously reported Ferguson to Human Resources for “hostile and aggressive behavior” and for involving the Brand and Marketing Department in projects without proper league approval or contracts.
Afterward, Filomena alleges, Ferguson escalated his hostility by yelling at him in front of others and accusing him of poor performance despite evidence to the contrary.
The Blackhawks, in a statement to Fox News, countered that Filomena was fired for repeated misconduct, saying he had received multiple warnings, including a final written warning, before his termination.
The team insisted his dismissal was unrelated to his sexual orientation.
Filomena disputes this explanation, pointing to a performance review where he received “On Track” ratings in all categories.
He maintains he fulfilled his job duties and was let go because of discrimination.
The firing came shortly after an interview with Outsports, where Filomena spoke about his experiences as a gay man in hockey and his advocacy for LGBTQ+ visibility.
He says he had prior approval from Blackhawks CEO Daniel Wirtz to give the interview, noting that media appearances were part of his role.
Still, Filomena claims he was told afterward that the department was upset about the piece, and when he raised concerns about discrimination to Ferguson, he was terminated the next day.
He is seeking damages, back pay with interest, coverage of legal fees, and compensation for emotional distress, arguing that the firing caused financial loss, harm to his career, and emotional suffering.
