Fired Motown Anchor Sues the Station

Back in early April, FTVLive told you that WJBK Anchor Taryn Asher, was officially gone from the Fox O&O. Now, the Detroit veteran is pushing back with a federal lawsuit that should capture the attention of any TV news professional tracking the intersection of newsroom politics, contract renewals, and Title VII. Asher, who had been with Fox 2 Detroit since 2007 and rose to lead evening anchor in 2022, filed a 26-page complaint in the U.S. District Court in Detroit against Fox Television Stations LLC and New World Communications of Detroit, alleging a pattern of sex discrimination and swift retaliation.

The fallout highlights a scenario too familiar in the industry: a dispute over airtime, scheduling, and high-profile assignments leading to a sudden human resources investigation. According to the lawsuit, friction began after Paul McGonagle took over as general manager in July 2025. Asher alleges she noticed female leadership being systematically replaced by men, while her male co-anchor, Roop Raj, was disproportionately favored with lucrative guest interview segments during the evening newscasts.

When station management approached Asher about hosting a revival of the station’s public affairs show, "Let It Rip," she initially agreed on the condition of a schedule adjustment—specifically, being taken off Friday evening newscasts, mirroring a workload accommodation already granted to Raj for his own show. However, the lawsuit claims News Director Brooks Blanton abruptly rescinded the accommodation under orders from McGonagle, while leaving Raj’s schedule intact.

The situation peaked during the high-stakes environment of election coverage in November 2025. Asher claims Raj was assigned nearly all of the guest interviews despite an agreement to split them evenly. After raising concerns with producers and managers on election night, Asher was immediately contacted by HR. The following day, she was placed on leave pending an investigation into alleged "egregious behavior" and "unprofessional conduct," with management claiming she appeared visibly upset on-air after a production error. Asher firmly denies any misconduct, noting that her performance was exemplary and that the station had never previously placed an on-air talent on leave during an ongoing investigation.

A WJBK insider tells FTVLive that Raj is hardworking, well liked, and may have gotten better assignments due to his professionalism at the station. The insider says that the same could not be said about Asher.

By late November, following a meeting attended by SAG-AFTRA representatives, Asher was told she was done at Fox 2 due to alleged "outbursts." The station later claimed she wasn't technically terminated but barred her from returning to the building, eventually informing her that her contract would not be renewed when it expired. Following an EEOC right-to-sue notice issued in May, Fox sent her a final termination letter set for June 5. For journalists watching this case, the most striking element may be the double standard alleged in the complaint; Asher points out that multiple high-level male employees at the station, including Raj and McGonagle themselves, maintained their jobs and even secured promotions following historic arrests for drunken-driving or disorderly conduct. Armed with legal backing and union support, Asher is seeking damages for lost wages, emotional distress, and the severe damage dealt to her professional reputation.