Ex-‘GMA’ host Joan Lunden alleges former WABC boss sexually harassed her

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Joan Lunden is reporting on her own story.

Joan Lunden’s new memoir, “Joan: Life Beyond the Script,” which comes out Tuesday, details how her former boss at New York’s WABC-TV made unwanted advances towards her and then punished her when she rejected them. Lunden began working at “Eyewitness News” in 1975, where she anchored the weekend news.

Lunden’s coworker, Ted, assisted her with editing her stories. He invited her to Fire Island, pretending it was a work-related trip.

Ted invited Joan, saying it would be a good chance to get to know her colleagues. Joan worried she’d feel out of place since she didn’t have close friends at work, but she accepted his encouragement and decided to go.

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When she got to Fire Island, she was surprised to find it wasn’t a work event at all, but a double date. It turned out the only other person from work was a reporter from WCBS-TV, and he’d brought his girlfriend.

I felt humiliated that I’d been so trusting and allowed things to escalate, and as a woman, I was deeply offended that my boss thought he could take advantage of me. He clearly expected me to simply accept it. I was also frightened, feeling trapped with no easy escape. It was getting late, and I was on Fire Island, where it’s impossible to just flag down a taxi and go home.

When Lunden questioned Ted about what happened, he said their initial plans changed and suggested they simply have a good time. Lunden claims Ted tried to persuade her to share his bed, but she declined and instead slept on the couch before leaving the next day.

When she returned to work that Monday, Lunden thought Ted’s attitude toward her had shifted.

Lunden soon discovered that a rejected man can be incredibly vengeful, as Ted began to repeatedly prevent her stories from being used on the show. This left her feeling powerless and exposed.

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Lunden felt her career suffered because her colleagues knew she’d taken an overnight trip with a supervisor, and as a result, fewer of her stories were being broadcast. This affected her earnings, as she received a bonus for each story that aired.

Lunden explained that the pay cut wasn’t even the worst part of her experience. She was deeply troubled by his behavior and the message it sent – not just to her, but to all women who simply wanted to be treated as equals. His actions made it clear he didn’t see women as men’s equals, and she felt he retaliated against her for rejecting his advances. She believes this constituted both sexual harassment and discrimination.

After Ted continued his behavior for about two months, Lunden consulted with her agent and lawyer. They recommended she sue Ted and WABC for sexual harassment and discrimination. She then called Ted to her office and firmly told him his actions needed to stop immediately, stating she wouldn’t tolerate it any longer.

Lunden said she knew her punch had connected when she saw the man’s reaction. They both returned to work afterward. She explained that sometimes you need to be assertive and defend yourself, even when it’s difficult and frightening.

WABC-TV did not respond to a request for comment.

In 1976, Joan Lunden joined ABC’s “Good Morning America” and became a co-anchor in 1980, a role she held until 1997. While at “GMA,” she successfully negotiated for on-set childcare, including a private space for breastfeeding, and actively promoted conversations about motherhood at work.

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2026-03-04 00:31