Current and former media personalities are speaking out against an alleged toxic workplace culture at Bell Media and CTV following the sudden and controversial firing of CTV National News anchor Lisa LaFlamme.
The sudden sacking left the former presenter feeling “blindsided” after a 35-year career, and a media firestorm has since unfolded, with growing public and industry outrage fueled by allegations that LaFlamme was fired because executives disapproved of the veteran anchor’s decision to grow her hair gray.
Media and public response has been highly critical of Bell Media, with rampant allegations of ageism and sexism dominating the discourse.
In what could be a public break under pressure, Bell Media has since announced it would launch an internal review into the debacle, but this reactive response is doing little to quell the barrage of criticism leveled at the media giant.
Among the long list of media personalities who have spoken out about not renewing LaFlamme’s contract, former Bell Media colleague Brandon Gonez, who left CP24 in 2021, has expressed his disappointment with the handling of the situation.
The fact that the name of Michael Melling (head of CTV News) does not appear in this release is very telling.
This independent internal review of the third-party workplace must be shared publicly once completed. Transparency is paramount, especially to the Canadian public. https://t.co/jPi8ygHttu
— The Brandon Gonez Show (@brandongonez) August 19, 2022
On Saturday, another former Bell Media employee, Danielle Graham, joined the chorus of LaFlamme’s past colleagues in speaking out against an alleged toxic culture at the media empire.
Graham opened up about the details surrounding her dismissal from Bell Media, where she alleges her discrimination concerns were “ignored and laughed off” and followed just days later by her sudden dismissal.
The story of my departure from BellMedia pic.twitter.com/hEMS5CcHMp
— Danielle Graham (@DanielleGraham) August 20, 2022
Even former personalities who worked for other media entities are speaking out about Bell Media’s culture, including former Corus Entertainment executive Jennifer Valentyne, who herself faced discrimination and sexism that led to his high-profile exit from the airwaves.
Thanks @HeatherMallick for saying this.. “There’s no reason to believe a woman wouldn’t fire a woman for being a woman – it happens all the time, if that woman’s job depends on doing so.” via @ torontostar
— Jennifer Valentyne (@JennValentyne) August 21, 2022
Former Global News reporter Priya Sam took aim at Bell’s board of directors, which includes five women who have the ability to make positive changes at the company.
This is the @Bell board including CEO Mirko Bibic.
They can take meaningful action at Bell Media after Lisa LaFlamme was fired, but so far they have done nothing.
Anyone else think it’s time we heard their thoughts on why misogyny is accepted there? pic.twitter.com/dCu3pWzxJI
— Priya Sam (@PriyaSam) August 22, 2022
In response to Sam’s post, former CBC anchor Robert Fisher stated that “the 5 women on the Bell Canada Board have a decision to make: ‘Lead, (continue to) follow or, walk away.’ “.
Current Global News investigative reporter Sean O’Shea tweeted his surprise at the firing, commenting that LaFlamme is “58 years old” and adding that “Lloyd Robertson worked as the network’s main anchor until he was 77 . Am I missing something?”
Fox News co-anchor and former CTV employee John Roberts, who himself has faced allegations of workplace toxicity, tweeted that he was “shocked” by the news.
I was shocked when I heard about this. I worked at @CTVNews in the early 90’s and I know @LisaLaFlamme_ is as solid as they come. via @torontostar
— John Roberts (@johnrobertsFox) August 18, 2022
Courtney Theriault, a reporter for CityNews in Edmonton, noted the obvious age gap separating LaFlamme and the late-career male anchors.
Recent departures of national anchors:
2011 – Lloyd Robertson retires as CTV anchor at age 77
2017- Peter Mansbridge retires as CBC anchor at age 69
2022- CTV cancels Lisa LaFlamme’s contract at age 58.
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) August 15, 2022
Even prominent names outside the media landscape have condemned Bell and CTV for the firing, including famed humanitarian General Roméo Dallaire, former MPs Cheri DiNovo and Dr. Rima Berns-McGown, and former House of Commons member Jane Philpott.