Greater than a 12 months after longtime WBZ reporter and anchor Kate Merrill all of a sudden left the TV station, she’s suing the outlet on Troopers Discipline Highway for racial and gender discrimination.
Merrill, who’s white, is searching for $4 million in damages from WBZ, CBS, Paramount and others, for claims that she was illegally pushed out from the station after greater than 20 years there.
When CBS Boston final June confirmed that Merrill was now not with the station, the WBZ spokesperson mentioned Merrill had determined to depart.
However within the lawsuit, Merrill alleges that she was discriminated towards — resulting in her departure.
“In the early 2020s, WBZ-TV, adopted diversity, equity and inclusion policies imposed by its parent corporations Columbia Broadcasting System and Paramount Global, Inc.,” her lawsuit reads. “In 2024, WBZ-TV exploited such policies and took career-ending action against Ms. Merrill to advance a DEI agenda.”
Merrill joined WBZ as a reporter in 2004 in Boston. She famous within the swimsuit that she coated most of the greatest native tales, together with the 2004 Democratic Nationwide Conference in Boston, the 2004 Pink Sox World Sequence win, a number of Patriots Tremendous Bowls, the Boston Marathon bombings, and extra.
WBZ promoted her from reporter to anchor, and in 2016, she turned the lead 11 p.m. reporter and weekend anchor. In 2017, WBZ named Merrill co-anchor for WBZ This Morning and WBZ Information at Midday.
“For more than 20 years, Ms. Merrill worked closely, virtually daily, with colleagues regardless of race (or any other protected category),” the lawsuit reads. “She opened the doors to her home to and befriended colleagues, regardless of race (or any protected category), and mentored any person – regardless of race (or any protected category) – who reached out and asked for her assistance trying to establish themselves in broadcast news.”
The swimsuit consists of images of her with Black colleagues, together with sportscaster Levan Reid, “whom Ms. Merrill befriended.”
“Prior to spring 2024, at no point in her lengthy career as a public figure (in fact, at no point in her life) had Ms. Merrill ever been accused of racism or exhibiting microaggressions or unconscious bias,” the lawsuit states. “To the contrary, she has educated herself on issues of systemic racism, microaggressions and unconscious bias. She is anti-racist.”
When WBZ employed Jason Mikell, a Black meteorologist from Mississippi, he reportedly requested Merrill to assist him with the pronunciation of native cities and cities.
Then final April, she texted him throughout a business break to appropriate his on-air pronunciation of Harmony.
“… Defendant Mikell immediately confronted Ms. Merrill, loudly yelling at her on the studio floor and asserting that she was being critical of him,” the swimsuit reads. “His tone was aggressive and unprofessional. Ms. Merrill immediately lodged a complaint with WBZ’s Human Resources department.”
The station didn’t examine her criticism towards Mikell, she claims. As a substitute, an investigation was launched into allegations that she handled colleagues otherwise due to their race, the swimsuit claims.
For example, WBZ’s Courtney Cole allegedly complained that Merrill advised her that she used to work in Nashville — and mentioned Cole ought to go there as a result of she might change into the primary anchor.
“Cole apparently interpreted (the remark) as a suggestion that she go to Nashville because it would be a better racial fit for Defendant Cole (who is Black) rather than a comment about career opportunities and how much she (Ms. Merrill) enjoyed Nashville,” the swimsuit reads.
“Ms. Merrill vehemently challenged the validity of Defendant Cole’s allegations and denied (and denies) any of her actions, inactions, or comments were as described or motivated by overt racism or unconscious bias,” the lawsuit continues.
The station concluded that Merrill’s conduct was grounded in microaggressions or unconscious bias, and it led to a “very unwelcoming work environment.” She acquired a written warning, and he or she was required to finish unconscious bias coaching.
Merrill was then demoted from co-anchor of the Weekday Morning Present to working weekend nights.
“Because of the catastrophic damage a demotion would have caused her career, especially in the context of allegations that she was racist, on May 24, 2024, Ms. Merrill gave notice of constructive discharge resignation, effective immediately,” the lawsuit reads.
Merrill’s employment settlement with WBZ didn’t expire till June 1, 2025. Due to the non-compete provision, she couldn’t work within the subject for greater than a 12 months.
“As a result, Ms. Merrill has suffered significant financial losses,” the swimsuit reads, including that she has “suffered significant reputational harm.”
Spokespeople for WBZ, CBS and Paramount didn’t instantly reply to remark.
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