A experienced female newscaster was sacked by a Canadian broadcaster, inciting outrage, when network officials allegedly questioned why she allowed her hair to become grey.
Lisa LaFlamme, 58, of Toronto, a former anchor of the Nightly News, was fired by CTV News on June 29 as a result of a “business decision” to terminate her 35-year contract suddenly.
LaFlamme announced his departure from CTV in a video goodbye that was shared on Twitter on August 15. Please know that reporting for you has been the greatest honour of life, even if it is heartbreaking to be leaving CTV National News in a way that is not of my choosing.
As a result of her decision to let her hair grey during the pandemic, which led big corporations like Wendy’s Canada and Dove Canada to openly support her and all women as they age, it has been widely conjectured that she was fired from the major network.
Bell Media, the company that controls CTV, said that this claim was false but failed to explain why.
The story goes that Lisa’s age, gender, or grey hair had an impact on the choice. CEO Mirko Bibic commented on LinkedIn, “I am certain that this is not the case and wanted to make sure you heard it from me.
While I would want to elaborate on the Bell Media ruling, we are constrained by a mutual separation agreement that Lisa and we established, which we will uphold.
Bell Media has been charged with terminating an anchor for filing a claim of gender discrimination.
On June 29, Lisa LaFlamme, 58, was fired before Danielle Graham was also fired.
Graham said she was dismissed for bringing up a gender discrimination allegation, but she didn’t come out about it until after LaFlamme’s case got steam.
On March 1, the former anchor allegedly informed management that she was “being discriminated against as a woman” and that she was “ignored and laughed at.”
She was rescheduled to be in the office for a “shot” shortly after formally complaining to HR.
I was abruptly informed by management that “you’re services are no longer necessary” while I was getting ready in my office.
“It was a “business choice,” I was informed,”
In addition, Graham said she was only given “three months severance [money] for my 17 years there” and that she was not permitted to say farewell on-air.
CTV has been approached by DailyMail.com for comment.
Michael Melling, the CEO of CTV, has also come under fire for allegedly questioning LaFlamme’s choice to cease colouring her hair and interfering with CTV’s news coverage after she left.
Melling is “on leave effective immediately,” according to Bibic, and her employment is being reviewed.
LaFlamme’s supporters, on the other hand, are calling him a “sexist jerk” and demanding that he immediately submit his resignation.
Even a petition demanding his ouster has started, stating he is “responsible for removing LaFlamme.” More than 2,400 people have already signed it.
The petition claimed that “when people dare to speak out, they no longer work for the company.”
In response to LaFlamme’s goodbye video, former CTV personality Danielle Graham also came out about how Bell Media dismissed her after she filed a complaint alleging gender discrimination.
She was also informed that being fired was a “business choice.”
The two ladies were not permitted to bid each other goodbye on-air.
In her farewell video, LaFlamme said, “For 35 years, I have had the honour of being welcomed into your homes to deliver the news on a nightly basis.
Therefore, I felt you should hear this directly from me.” I was informed that Bell Media terminated my contract due to a “business decision,” abruptly ending my lengthy career with CTV News.
“Bell Media’s decision caught me off guard, and I’m still astonished and disappointed by it.”
In addition, she said she was bound by a secrecy agreement until the “specifics of my leaving could be handled,” but that agreement is now no longer in effect.
The seasoned journalist has covered important historical events for CTV, including the recent Jubilee in the UK, the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, Hurricane Katrina, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the COVID pandemic.
As a reporter and an anchor, she remarked, “I never take this trust for granted.” I expected to have more time at 58 to tell the tales that have an influence on our everyday life, but I instead depart CTV humbled by the individuals who trusted me to tell their story.
Since publishing her heartfelt goodbye, many people have shown support for the journalist.
One such organisation is Wendy’s Canada, which changed its famous emblem from red hair to grey hair and included the hashtag “#LisaLaFlamme” because “a [star] is a [star] regardless of hair colour.”
As a result of the overwhelming support the firm got for its audacious choice, Dove Canada adopted the same strategy and unveiled the Aging is Beautiful campaign.
“Aging is lovely. The cosmetics company remarked on Instagram, “We should all be allowed to do it on our own terms, without any penalties.
Additionally, it said that it will be giving $100,000 CAD to Catalyst, “a Canadian nonprofit organisation committed to assisting in the development of inclusive workplaces for all women.”
Wendy’s Canada and Dove Canada have been contacted by DailyMail.com for comment.
In addition, The Globe and the Mail published an open letter from well-known Canadians criticising the corporation for terminating LaFlamme due to “the colour of her hair” in their publication.
“At our heart, Canadians are kind and decent people. We are fully aware that errors are made by all of us, even extremely large organisations, it said in the letter. However, we also think that how we handle the error matters more than the mistake itself. And Bell has fallen short here a second time.
Which brings us to our current situation. Bell, what are you going to do to earn back our confidence and put things right? What will you do for us all, not just Lisa?
Roméo Dallaire, a retired lieutenant general and former senator from Canada, also sent a comment on Twitter, stating that when powerful women are mistreated in this way, both young men and women are taught the same sexist teachings that I was taught three generations before.
‘If we as a society care at all about respect, justice, and equality, we cannot remain mute and watch while organisations controlled by men that uphold ego-driven old boys’ club mentality use double standards.
“This is an artefact from the past.” This cycle has to be broken. We really ought to have broken it a long time ago.
There will be a lot of backlash from Lisa LaFlamme’s unexpected and cruel firing after 35 years as a renowned anchor. And not just for Bell and CTV.
A photo of Canadian UN delegate Bob Rae’s white hair was posted on Twitter along with the joke: “No surprise I was never invited to audition for CTV.”
Others noted that the two male anchors with grey hair, Peter Mansbridge and Lloyd Robertson, still hold down employment.
Another person brought up Bell Media’s poor treatment of one of its highest-ranking employees, saying, “Just think how they treat the people at the bottom.”
Bell Media has previously been under fire for having a “toxic” work environment, which includes claims of sexual harassment, bullying, and improper conduct.
The media firm has “begun an independent assessment,” according to Bibic, who also addressed this in his statement. All newsroom staff members will be interviewed as part of the process.