Taryn Asher, one of FOX 2 Detroit’s most recognizable evening anchors, has been off the air since last November and, her attorney says, was fired that month after raising concerns about how she was treated at the station. Her lawyer says he has filed a charge with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging gender discrimination and retaliation.
According to The Detroit News, attorney Matthew Turner alleges Asher was treated differently from male co-workers in assignments, scheduling and access to guests, and that management retaliated after she complained. Turner told the paper that he and his client are seeking either reinstatement or financial compensation, and that no civil suit has been filed yet because of the required waiting period that follows an EEOC filing.
Deadline Detroit reports that Turner’s office tried unsuccessfully to get Asher back on the air and that her desk was recently cleared out in the newsroom, which the attorney said signaled FOX 2 would not reinstate her. The outlet also reported that sources said Asher had been on a paid suspension since early November, tied to an incident in the newsroom.
Asher has anchored FOX 2’s evening newscasts at 5, 6, 10, and 11 p.m. and has been with the station since 2007, according to her profile on FOX 2 Detroit. The station still lists her on its staff page even though she has not appeared on broadcasts since November.
Legal Process And What Could Follow
Filing a charge with the EEOC kicks off an administrative process that can include investigation, mediation and conciliation. Individuals may request a “right-to-sue” notice after about 180 days and then generally have 90 days to bring a federal lawsuit, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If the EEOC finds reasonable cause, it can try to negotiate a settlement or pursue litigation on behalf of the claimant. If it does not, the complaining party can still seek court action after receiving a right-to-sue notice.
What Asher's Attorney Says
Turner told Deadline Detroit that he spent most of this time trying to get them to realize the error of their ways and bring her back, describing months of behind-the-scenes efforts to reverse the firing. Once it became clear FOX 2 would not reinstate Asher, he said, they moved ahead with the EEOC filing. Turner added that his client is seeking reinstatement or monetary damages and declined to share more specifics while the administrative process plays out.
FOX 2 management did not immediately provide an on-the-record response, and outlets reporting the story say station officials were not available for comment. The EEOC charge will create a public record, and any future filings or responses from the station are expected to clarify whether this dispute heads into full-blown litigation.
