NYC Judge Dismisses Civil Case Against “The Bear” Writer

A judge in New York City has thrown out a civil summons against Alex O’Keefe, a former writer for the popular FX series “The Bear.” The incident in question involved O’Keefe being handcuffed on a Metro-North train last month after a disagreement over seating.

O’Keefe, who is black, alleged that transit officers targeted him due to his race after a passenger complained about his seating posture on the train.

In a viral video recorded by O’Keefe, he questioned a police officer, asking, “Are you going to arrest one black guy on a train because this white woman said she didn’t like the way I was sitting?”

Interestingly, the video suggested that the train wasn’t particularly crowded at the time. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority reported that police were called after a conductor indicated O’Keefe had violated train regulations by sitting with his legs spread on the seat next to him.

When officers asked him to leave the train, O’Keefe reportedly refused. As a result, he was handcuffed and questioned on the platform, eventually receiving a summons for disorderly conduct. This summons was recently dismissed by an administrative judge, which is often typical for such incidents.

After the ruling, O’Keefe expressed discontent outside the courthouse, stating that the MTA “failed to use me as an example.” He added that he felt “harassed and detained for sitting while black,” affirming his commitment to advocating for civil rights in New York.

Despite the dismissal of the summons, O’Keefe remains determined to protect the rights of others. He commented, “Even though this absurd lawsuit was dismissed today, I will continue to protect the civil rights of all New Yorkers.”

MTA Chairman Jano Lieber had characterized the situation as a straightforward matter of a passenger not adhering to agency rules. He posed the question, “Do police have to intervene because someone won’t take their feet off their seat?” adding that respecting fellow passengers is essential.

At 31, O’Keefe was part of the team that received a Writers Guild Award for Best Comedy Series for “The Bear” in 2023.