This Anchor's Lawsuit has a Focus on Pronunciation
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Former WBZ (Boston) anchor Kate Merrill has filed a discrimination lawsuit against the station, its parent companies, and several colleagues, alleging she lost her career because she is white.
The lawsuit centers on her interactions with Jason Mikell, a newly hired Black meteorologist. According to Merrill's complaint, Mikell had asked for help pronouncing local town names. After an on-air mispronunciation, she texted him the correct pronunciation of "Concord." Merrill claims Mikell reacted by "loudly yelling at her on the studio floor."
When Merrill reported the incident to human resources, she learned that she was the one being investigated for a series of alleged microaggressions. Faced with a demotion, she quit.
The investigation against Merrill was based on complaints from Mikell and another Black colleague, Courtney Cole. The allegations included:
The text about "Concord" was perceived as a slight.
Merrill told Mikell he would "find his people" in Boston, which she claims was meant to be encouraging.
Merrill suggested Cole could be a main anchor in Nashville, which Cole allegedly interpreted as a comment on racial fit.
Other complaints cited Merrill for not asking Mikell about his weekends, rolling her eyes when talking to people of color, and not greeting them.
Merrill's lawsuit contends these interactions were misinterpreted and that she was wrongly targeted, leading to the loss of her job due to racial discrimination.
H/T Boston Globe
