M-I-A in Motown

Questions are mounting regarding the status of a primetime anchor at WJBK, the Fox Television Stations owned-and-operated outlet in Detroit, following a prolonged absence from the airwaves.

Taryn Asher, a marquee talent for the station, has been missing from the nightly newscast since early November. While station management has maintained a strict silence regarding personnel matters, industry insiders suggest the absence is disciplinary. Sources familiar with the situation report that Asher was placed on suspension following a verbal altercation in the newsroom that allegedly involved evening co-anchor Roop Raj, News Director Brooks Blanton, and her newscast producer. It remains unclear if this was an isolated event or the culmination of ongoing friction within the newsroom.

WJBK leadership has not issued a formal statement regarding the personnel issue. General Manager Paul McGonagle, News Director Blanton, and anchors Raj and Asher did not respond to requests for comment regarding the status of the anchor team. Despite the uncertainty surrounding her return, the station has not severed ties publicly. Asher continues to appear in pre-produced on-air promotions and remains listed on the station’s digital assets as the evening anchor for the 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 10 p.m., and The Edge newscasts. Sources confirm her desk in the Southfield newsroom remains assigned to her.

The disruption comes at a critical time for the Fox Television station, which is still navigating a major talent transition. Asher was officially elevated to the co-anchor chair alongside Raj in 2022, tasked with retaining the audience of legacy anchors Huel Perkins and Monica Gayle, who retired simultaneously earlier that year. The Perkins and Gayle team was a dominant force in the Detroit market for decades, placing significant pressure on their successors to maintain ratings stability.

H/T Deadline Detroit