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A former morning news anchor is suing WBZ, a Boston-based station, and parent companies CBS and Paramount, alleging she was discriminated against for being white and female, per The Independent.
The $4 million lawsuit, filed by Kate Merrill, alleges that the former WBZ anchor was demoted to weekend nights after being accused of committing "microaggressions" and showing unconscious bias towards two Black colleagues. Merill resigned in May 2024 following her demotion, a move she claims was publicly celebrated by her manager, Justin Draper.
“Draper unnecessarily broadly announced Ms. Merrill’s demotion, humiliating her,” the lawsuit states. “In so doing, Defendant Draper acted with malice and ill will. Draper had not similarly broadly announced the demotions of any male anchors at WBZ.”
Tensions between Merrill and her Black colleagues escalated after meteorologist Jason Mikell, who was hired in 2023, allegedly confronted her after she corrected his pronunciation of the word "Concord." Merill claimed that Mikell had made a sexual joke towards her, but when she went to report the incident to HR, the former anchor was informed that she was under investigation for racial discrimination.
“None of Ms. Merrill’s actions were motivated by overt racism or unconscious bias,” the filing claims.
The investigation came after Merill allegedly told Mikell that he would "find his people" and failed to ask him about his weekends. Fellow anchor Courtney Cole, a second Black employee, also allegedly took offense when Merrill, who previously worked in Nashville, suggested she move to the city to advance her career.
“Cole apparently interpreted [the comment] as a suggestion that she go to Nashville because it would be a better racial fit,” the lawsuit says, claiming that Merrill referenced Nashville’s career opportunities, not its demographics, during her conversation with Cole.
Merrill also claims that WBZ prioritized increasing on-air diversity over experience, citing how Cole was allegedly given anchor desk opportunities ahead of more senior white colleagues. She also alleges that a white meteorologist was let go without warning to make room for Mikell.
Her lawsuit references the 2020 diversity reckoning at CBS and WBZ, noting that a former executive said the station was “too white” and had the “least diverse station for on-air talent.”
Even after she resigned, Merrill said her non-compete clause kept her off the air until June 2025. She argues that the situation was “career-ending.”
WBZ and CBS haven't publicly spoken about Merrill's allegations.
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