Joan Lunden Alleges Sexual Harassment by Former TV Boss in New Memoir
Longtime Good Morning America host Joan Lunden has made serious allegations of sexual harassment against a former superior during her early career at New York news station WABC. The 75-year-old journalist, renowned for co-anchoring the ABC morning show from 1980 to 1997, details the incident in her newly released memoir, Joan: Life Beyond the Script.
Details of the Alleged Incident
Lunden was hired by WABC in 1975 at age 25 and worked there until 1980. In her book, she recounts how a superior, whom she refers to with the pseudonym "Ted," invited her to a work social event on Fire Island. He presented it as a "good opportunity for you to socialize with the rest of the team." However, upon arrival, Lunden realized only two other people were present—a WCBS reporter and his girlfriend—making it essentially an "overnight double date."
"I was embarrassed that I’d been so naive as to let this situation unfold, and I was offended as a woman that a guy—my superior at work—thought he could get away with this!" Lunden writes. "He assumed that I would just go along with it."
Confrontation and Workplace Retaliation
Lunden recalls telling her boss, "Ted, you know this is not what I signed up for," aiming to be firm yet cautious given his authority. She chose to sleep on the couch rather than share a bed. Following the trip, she alleges her boss began "killing" her stories to prevent them from airing, directly impacting her pay.
"Even more disturbing than the loss of pay was having to put up with his attitude and what it said to me and other women who only wanted to work as equals," Lunden writes. "His behavior clearly sent the message that women were not equal to men, and that when I'd refused his overtures, he was free to seek revenge. This was clearly sexual harassment and sexual discrimination."
Legal Action and Resolution
After consulting her agent and a lawyer, Lunden was advised she could sue for sexual harassment and discrimination. Upon informing her superior of the potential legal action, she says he apologized. "I could see by the look on his face that my punch had landed," Lunden writes. "He walked out, and we both went back to work. Sometimes, you just have to put on your big-girl pants and stand up for yourself, even if it feels incredibly uncomfortable and scary."
The Independent has reached out to ABC for comment on these allegations. Lunden's memoir sheds light on the challenges women faced in the media industry during that era, highlighting issues of power dynamics and gender equality.
