YouTube has filed its opposition to Disney’s breach of contract lawsuit involving the former president of Disney Platform Distribution, Justin Connolly, who was set to start a new role at the digital video platform.
YouTube Files Dispute Against Disney’s Breach of Contract Over Justin Connolly
In a new report from Variety, YouTube is firing back at Disney’s lawsuit regarding Connolly’s exit from the company to become the global head of media and sports for YouTube, which was filed on May 21 in Los Angeles. YouTube’s response was filed on Monday, June 2, with the Superior Court of the State of California in Los Angeles County.
Disney asks this Court to specifically enforce defendant Justin Connolly’s purported ‘fixed term’ employment agreement, to issue a restraining order that would place Mr. Connolly out of work, and to preclude Mr. Connolly from working for the employer of his choice for years.
YouTube, in a reply to Disney’s lawsuit
The suit includes many rebuttals to Disney’s allegations against Connolly. Where Disney claims the former executive had signed a three-year contract in November 2024 that his move to YouTube reportedly violates, YouTube says that Connolly was employed on an at-will basis with the Mouse, and Disney had the “unfettered right to fire Mr. Connolly at any time and for any reason.” YouTube claims that an order requiring Connolly to “return to Disney to work against his will and/or to quit his new position at YouTube” is “expressly prohibited by statute and other controlling California law.”
Connolly exited his role at The Walt Disney Company in May 2025, after working 20 years in several positions. His exit comes right at Disney was nearing negotiations related to ESPN’s direct-to-consumer streaming service. He previously oversaw third-party media sales efforts for distribution, distribution strategy, affiliate marketing, and affiliate-related business operations for all DTC services and linear media networks.
Connolly stated in a declaration filing that he stopped “leading or participating materially” in any negotiations regarding license renewal between Disney and YouTube as of April 2025, after disclosing his intended career move. A different Disney executive then replaced him as the lead negotiator for the license.
Google’s attempts to speed up Connolly’s move to YouTube and continue renewal negotiations with Disney were seemingly not received well. Disney asked that negotiations with YouTube be “prioritized,” and instead of invoking Connolly’s contract that reportedly prevented him from leaving the company, “Disney made clear that it intends to use Mr. Connolly as a pawn to advance the renegotiation of its license renewal with YouTube,” according to the internet video platform. When Google said they were willing to move up talks if Connolly joined the company “sooner rather than later,” Disney reportedly did not respond and “did not offer Mr. Connolly any meaningful path to exit with Disney’s support.”
YouTube’s filing also calls Connolly’s knowledge of Disney-related information “irrelevant,” citing that his offer letter from them “demands that he continue to adhere to his confidentiality obligations to Disney, and confirms he cannot bring, use or disclose any of Disney’s confidential or proprietary information during his work at YouTube.”
A June 4 hearing is scheduled for Disney’s application for the aforementioned temporary restraining order to block Connolly’s move to YouTube.
Source: Variety
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