Presley Pritchard, a 27-year-old woman, who lost her job as a firefighter at the Evergreen Fire Rescue in Kalispell, Montana, is taking legal action against her former employer because she was allegedly removed from her position due to pictures that she shared on social media.
Until recently, Pritchard was working as a firefighter paramedic for the Evergreen Fire Rescue District, but according to her, she was fired in August because of the way she looked in her gym attire.
Following the loss of her job, the young woman was determined to sue the department, and as a result, she filed a claim that her termination was wrongful and also stated she was the victim of sexual harassment and gender discrimination.
According to Pritchard, she was fired due to the fact that she had numerous followers on Instagram and Facebook, and the pictures she posted were deemed inappropriate by the department.
Pritchard also claimed that ever since her career as a social media influencer started taking off in 2018, she was formally warned on around 20 separate occasions about what she wore in the pictures that she shared.
As a result, Pritchard was ordered to take down the Instagram photos, in which she wore her firefighter uniform because she reportedly was using her work to promote her influencer career.
However, after a discussion with her lawyer, Pritchard refused to delete the pictures, since her workplace did not have any set rules regarding social media activity.
The former firefighter and paramedic started with the legal actions against her department in December, and she voiced her claim that she was fired because of sexism and preferential treatment for men.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7pEW5gn64t/
She told her fans she will remain strong and added: “You can watch me, knock me, block me, or join me. What you CANNOT do is stop me.
No matter how many times I fall,
I will still rise.
Storms make trees take deeper roots.
I don’t seek to be liked or relevant.
I seek to be so much more than normal.
I’m so focused on my goals, and what God is using me for that I have no interest in who’s fake, who’s talking behind my back, or who’s hating on me.
As @timtebow said, “it’s not about proving the haters wrong.”
I’m on a mission.
I’m destined for impact.
I have a purpose.
And NO ONE and NOTHING will stand in my way.
If my path demands I walk through Hell, I’ll walk as if I own the place.
I’ve survived 100% of my worst days so far.
Keep the faith and refuse to give up. The best is yet to come.
the battle is not yours, but God’s- 2 chronicles 20:15.”
One of her followers told her to march on: “Just read an article about you, and I’m a FAN! I work in a remote oilfield in Alaska and have been criticized for wearing yoga pants when I’m in camp because people were staring at my butt. So now I only wear yoga pants when I’m not in the field! ? Thank you for being you and for being an inspiration.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B6oGwtQB4vD/
Another Instagrammer wrote: “I seriously don’t understand why you aren’t on some magazine cover every month or unless you’re bound by an NDA have not told us you are currently filming Marvel movie or tv show. She-Hulk! I’ll be writing Marvel on your behalf.”
Critics say the Montana firefighter was not fired for IG photos but more for using her work attire outside of her job.
