Veteran broadcaster Joan Lunden has spoken publicly about an alleged sexual harassment incident early in her career, revealing in her new memoir that she was propositioned by a senior TV executive and took professional revenge when she refused.
Joan Lunden goes back to alleged molestation in the 1970s
In Joan: Life Beyond the Script, released March 3, Lunden, 75, recounts her early years at WABC-TV’s Eyewitness News in New York, where she started in 1975. At the time, she was a young reporter co-anchoring the weekend news and learning the demands of a competitive newsroom.
In the book, Lunden refers to the colleague and supervisor as “Ted” and describes him as someone who initially helped her edit stories and offered advice.
According to her account, the relationship took a disturbing turn when he invited her to what he described as a newsroom social gathering on Fire Island, a popular summer destination off Long Island.
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Lunden writes that she agreed to participate after being encouraged because she believed it would be an opportunity to connect with colleagues. However, when they arrived at the house on Fire Island, she found that only two other people were present – a WCBS reporter and his girlfriend. She quickly realized that what was presented as a work event was actually intended as a double overnight date.
In her memoir, Lunden describes feeling embarrassed and afraid. With no easy transport back to the mainland and nightfall approaching, she says she felt trapped. She recounts how she confronted her supervisor and made it clear that the situation was not one she had agreed to. Despite this, she claims he tried to downplay her concerns and encouraged her to “just enjoy” the evening.
Lunden says she rejected his advances and spent the night on the couch before leaving early the next morning. She writes that when she returned to work the following week, his attitude changed dramatically.
According to her account, he began blocking the airing of her stories, a move that had both professional and financial consequences. Back then, TV reporters were paid a base salary plus additional fees for each story they aired. If the segment did not make it to the program, the income decreased.
She describes feeling vulnerable and powerless, noting that colleagues knew she had traveled to Fire Island with her supervisor and that her stories were no longer on the air. According to her, the alleged retaliation lasted several months.
Lunden writes that she eventually confronted him directly, warning that she had spoken with her agent and attorney and was prepared to file a sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit. He says the warning had an immediate impact and the behavior stopped.
Her account contributes to a larger conversation about workplace misconduct in the media industry, particularly in the 1970s, when formal reporting systems and legal protections were less visible than they are today. In recent years, the #MeToo movement has prompted many women in broadcasting and entertainment to revisit their past experiences.
Despite the alleged incident, Lunden’s career flourished. In 1979, she co-founded Good Morning America, working alongside David Hartman and later Charlie Gibson. She remained on the program until 1997 and became one of the most recognizable faces on American morning television.
After publishing her memoir, Lunden says she hopes her story will encourage openness and accountability. “I felt vindicated,” she writes of the confrontation with her supervisor. She adds pointedly that she hopes he’s reading her account now.
