‘Last Man Standing’ Showrunner Tim Doyle Censured By WGA West For Facebook Posting Of “Racist And Offensive” Image

Greg Evans

July 11, 2024 at 3:53 p.m.·2 min read

Longtime showrunner Tim Doyle, whose credits include Rules of Engagement, Last Man Standing and Better Off Ted, has been censured by the Writers Guild of America West for posting a “racist and offensive depiction of a lynching” on Facebook last year.

In a letter to members today (read it below), the union’s board of directors said that charges were initiated against Doyle after the August 9 post. “Mr. Doyle was charged with engaging in conduct prejudicial to the welfare of the Guild and unfair dealing with other members in violation of Article X.A., Section 1 of the Constitution,” the letter states.

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Doyle has insisted that the drawing, posted during the TV and film writers strike, was intended as a joke. The drawing depicted a man hanging upside down from a tree.

Following a hearing in which evidence was presented and Doyle’s testimony taken, a union trial committee determined Doyle “guilty as charged.”

“The WGAW Board of Directors (‘Board’) adopted the trial committee’s findings that Mr. Doyle’s August 9, 2023, posting constituted conduct prejudicial to the welfare of the Guild and unfair dealing,” the letter states. “The Board determined that Mr. Doyle’s conduct warrants public censure.”

Here is WGAW board’s full letter to members:

Dear Members:

The Writers Guild of America West (“WGAW”) initiated charges against member Tim Doyle under Article X of the Constitution and Bylaws of the WGAW (“Constitution”). The charges alleged that on August 9, 2023 Mr. Doyle posted, on a Facebook group for WGAW members, an image that members perceived as a racist and offensive depiction of a lynching. Mr. Doyle was charged with engaging in conduct prejudicial to the welfare of the Guild and unfair dealing with other members in violation of Article X.A., Section 1 of the Constitution.

After hearing evidence, including Mr. Doyle’s testimony, a trial committee of Current members in good standing found Mr. Doyle guilty as charged.

The WGAW Board of Directors (“Board”) adopted the trial committee’s findings that Mr. Doyle’s August 9, 2023 posting constituted conduct prejudicial to the welfare of the Guild and unfair dealing.

The Board determined that Mr. Doyle’s conduct warrants public censure.

Members may report harassment or discrimination to the Guild through MyConnext, by email, or by calling the Guild.

WGAW BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Meredith Stiehm, President
Michele Mulroney, Vice President
Betsy Thomas, Secretary-Treasurer
Scott Alexander
Raphael Bob-Waksberg
Angelina Burnett
Adam Conover
Travis Donnelly
Rob Forman
Ashley Gable
Justin Halpern
Dante W. Harper
Eric Haywood
Deric A. Hughes
Zoe Marshall
Molly Nussbaum
Dailyn Rodriguez
John Rogers
Nicole Yorkin

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