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In her lawsuit, Daniel Graham claims that a co-leader was promoted over her despite his “gross incompetence” because the station is an “old boys’ club.”
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June 10, 2022 • 1 hour • 4 minutes ago reading • 38 comments Former eTalk presenter Daniel Graham in 2016 Photo by George Pimentel / WireImage / File
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Daniel Graham, a former host of CTV’s leading entertainment show, is suing the owners of the TV network, saying she was fired in retaliation for challenging gender discrimination against women, including failing to get promoted, receiving less pay, less privileges and more free job requests.
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Graham, 42, has resigned as host of eTalk, which CTV says is Canada’s most-watched entertainment magazine in March.
In her case, filed on Friday, she claims she was fired in direct response to her insistence on a complaint about “the persistent, persistent and systematic discrimination on the grounds of sex she received as a woman at Bell”.
Bell Media Inc. owns CTV.
Graham said her termination came a day before her lawyer at the time met with David Dagle, CTV’s vice president, “to discuss the discrimination and sexual harassment she was experiencing.”
“She was fired specifically to anticipate this meeting. She has complained three times in the previous year alone, expressing concern about blatant gender discrimination against women in Bell, discrimination endemic to CTV, “the trial said.
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She claims that a co-leading man was promoted because of her, despite his “gross incompetence”, because the station is a “club for old boys”.
Requests for comment from Daigle, Bell’s legal counsel, CTV and eTalk reporters, and eTalk presenter Tyrone Edwards, sent late Friday afternoon, were not answered before the deadline.
Sarah McLaren, director of public relations at Bell Media, said the company had not received the request, “but we are not commenting on staffing issues affecting current or past employees.”
The plaintiff has never been a diva and has done most of the leading work without complaint
Graham joined eTalk in 2007 as a reporter when Ben Mulroney hosted and hosted in 2017.
“The plaintiff has always accepted second-hand treatment of the main host Ben Mulroney, but he was made to believe that after his departure she will become a senior presenter. The plaintiff has always had great admiration for Mulroney and has respected him as a respected colleague, “said her statement of claim.
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In 2020, Mulroney announced his resignation as presenter to make room for more diverse voices.
At the time, Mulroney said: “I hope the new presenter is black, local or colored, who can use this important platform to inspire, guide and change.
Graham, who is white, claims in her trial that Edwards, who is black and new as a presenter, was “inserted instead and granted the preferential treatment previously granted to Mr Mulroney,” despite her allegations. that he was less experienced, unsuccessful, was not a superstar or a favorite of the audience.
“Bell even acknowledged his incompetence when he was first offered the position, and the plaintiff objected on this very basis to the good of her show,” her statement said.
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“The plaintiff has never been a diva and has relentlessly done most of the work of the anchor,” the lawsuit said.
“If Edwards had better skills than her, she would have accepted his preferential treatment, but it was the other way around. He was internally well known for being extremely incompetent and was given a higher position than her because of his gender, with no other justifiable justification, “she said in a lawsuit filed by Levitt Sheikh’s Toronto Labor Law Office in court.
Her statement lists many of Edwards’ alleged shortcomings.
However, CTV promoted Edwards as a talented host.
“With her extensive knowledge of pop culture and her innate ability to facilitate intimate and frank conversation with guests, Tyrone Edwards is sharing her experience in Canada’s most-watched entertainment program, ETALK Anchor,” the CTV promotional website said.
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When Graham revealed that she was leaving eTalk in March, she said on social media that she was moving forward with “nothing but love”.
“It’s time to say goodbye. 15 years beyond my wildest dreams. I gave everything I had to the show and in return it gave me my whole world, “she tweeted at the time.
Her costume paints a completely different picture.
She said she was “dramatically underpaid” and had never offered benefits to Mulroney and Edwards, and had experienced gender discrimination.
The younger Edwards, when he was a reporter, was offered extra shows, a driver and a more generous salary, she said, while three women on staff had to do an extra show for free.
When she told a manager she was pregnant, she said her answer was, “Oh, hell again?”
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While she was 7 months pregnant and had difficulty standing in high heels for long periods, her requested accommodation needs as a pregnant woman were ignored and she was not allowed to film her part of the show first. to avoid the physical agony she experienced. She was asked to do unpaid work while on maternity leave.
“Her release, without cause or even justification, following her numerous complaints of gender discrimination, was reprehensible and should lead to a significant award of criminal damages to show the outrage that this attitude, in violation of Community standards and acceptable behavior, it deserves it, “she said.
After she was fired, she was offered only a three-month salary despite her 17 years of service, which she said was a quarter of what her husband Randall Graham was offered when he left Bell Media, where he worked as the brand’s creative director.
That proposal, she said, prompted her to take legal action, “which she would have preferred to avoid,” she said.
Graham is seeking $ 1 million for wrongful dismissal, $ 1,550,000 for various other alleged damages. None of the allegations have been proven in court.
• Email: ahumphreys@postmedia.com | Twitter: AD_Humphreys
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