News Summary
Kate Merrill, ex-anchor at WBZ, is suing the station and its parent companies for $4 million, claiming racial and gender discrimination led to her wrongful departure. The lawsuit highlights Merrill’s history at the station, her complaint against a colleague, and subsequent investigations into her conduct. Her legal action reflects broader concerns over diversity policies affecting employment practices at CBS and Paramount, as similar claims emerge regarding ‘reverse discrimination.’
Boston – Kate Merrill, a former anchor and reporter at WBZ, is suing the station, along with CBS and Paramount, for $4 million, alleging racial and gender discrimination surrounding her recent departure. The lawsuit comes after Merrill claims she was unfairly pushed out to further a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategy at the station, a move supported by corporate directives from CBS and Paramount.
Merrill’s relationship with WBZ began in 2004, where she became a notable figure in the station, reporting on various major events like the 2004 Democratic National Convention, the Red Sox’s World Series win, and the Boston Marathon bombings. In 2016, she ascended to the role of lead 11 p.m. reporter and weekend anchor, later sharing co-anchor duties for WBZ This Morning and WBZ News at Noon starting in 2017.
According to the lawsuit, Merrill’s work history reflects a commitment to collaboration and mentorship among colleagues of diverse backgrounds. Prior to spring 2024, she did not face any accusations related to racially insensitive behavior or microaggressions. However, tensions reportedly began after the hiring of Black meteorologist Jason Mikell, who confronted Merrill during a commercial break regarding a correction she made about his pronunciation. Following this incident, Merrill filed a complaint against Mikell.
Instead of pursuing Merrill’s complaint, WBZ launched an investigation into allegations regarding her treatment of colleagues based on race. The allegations indicated that Merrill’s interactions with co-workers, including remarks made towards Black colleague Courtney Cole, were perceived as racially insensitive. The station ultimately concluded that Merrill’s actions amounted to microaggressions, creating a hostile work environment, and issued a written warning along with requiring her to undergo unconscious bias training.
This investigation resulted in a demotion from her co-anchor position to weekend nights, which Merrill argues was announced in a way that publicly humiliated her and damaged her professional image. Faced with the negative repercussions, she resigned on May 24, 2024, describing her departure as a constructive discharge stemming from the turmoil related to her demotion and the subsequent allegations against her.
Another key element of Merrill’s lawsuit is her contention that she has not received compensation for accrued paid leave. Additionally, her employment contract includes a non-compete clause that prevents her from working in the journalism field until June 1, 2025, which has further compounded her financial losses.
Merrill’s lawsuit not only puts forth specific allegations against Mikell but also points to the lack of proper investigation into her claims. She contends that while her conduct was scrutinized, her perspective was not taken into account. The suit seeks damages for lost wages, emotional distress, harm to her reputation, unpaid wages, and legal fees.
In a broader context, Merrill’s lawsuit reflects a growing trend, as other former employees have similarly filed claims against CBS/Paramount concerning their minority hiring policies that began in 2019. These claims highlight concerns over what some perceive as “reverse discrimination” in the rush to promote diversity at the potential cost of qualified white employees.
As of now, WBZ, CBS, and Paramount have not released any public statements regarding the allegations or responded to requests for comments on this matter.
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