A fired US news anchor has been caught on video seemingly calling her co-worker a ‘b****’ during a heated newsroom confrontation.
Taryn Asher, 51, who was taken off the air in November last year, was recording a public service announcement for Fox 2 Detroit when the tense exchange unfolded.
The anchor can be seen responding to somebody off-camera while discussing scripts and how she is having to wait for them to be reviewed while she is preparing to go on camera.
In the newly-released video from 2023, which was first revealed by FTVLive and Deadline Detroit, Asher then tells her colleague: ‘See, I mean, I can’t wait for you to go through them all and then I go through them, because then I’m already getting ready by then.
‘I don’t think you are. You’re walking out really angry.’
As the exchange starts to turn nasty, Asher appears to call the co-worker a ‘b****’ before saying: ‘Can I please finish what I’m going to say?
‘What the f–k. Grow up… I’m so done with her antics, telling on me every five seconds. I’m done.’
This comes as Asher, who worked at Fox 2 Detroit from 2007 until her departure, is now suing Fox Television Stations for sex discrimination and retaliation.
Fox has denied the claims and say Asher’s removal followed ‘unprofessional workplace behavior’ and ‘outbursts’.
In its August 14 response to her lawsuit, Fox said several employees had complained about Asher’s behaviour in the week before she was placed on paid leave on November 5.
The station alleged that she had shouted at her fellow staff members over guest interview assignments, repeatedly used profanity and had ‘confrontational and disrespectful interactions’ with colleagues.
Fox also claimed that Asher confronted an employee she believed had complained about her to management.
The broadcaster cited one dispute on October 30 involving her male co-anchor, Roop Raj.
According to Fox, Asher mistakenly believed Raj had been given an interview she had booked and alleged that she raised her voice and at times shouted at two colleagues over the mix-up.
On November 4, tensions allegedly flared again during election coverage when Fox acknowledged that its producers initially assigned Raj both guest interviews during the 5pm and 6pm broadcasts before one was later reassigned to Asher.
However, according to the station, Asher confronted Raj and accused him of receiving preferential treatment, allegedly telling him: ‘You don’t own politics.’
The following day, Fox placed Asher on paid leave while it investigated complaints about her behaviour.
After the investigation, Fox said that management told Asher on November 21 that she would not return because of her ‘repeated outbursts in the newsroom and multiple instances of unprofessional conduct with her colleagues’.
Asher denies behaving in a way that warranted discipline or dismissal.
Her lawsuit also claims that Fox treated male employees accused of misconduct more leniently and that she was retaliated against after raising concerns about sex discrimination.
An attorney for Asher said the footage ‘does not tell the full story’ and claimed the incident shown ‘was addressed at the time and did not result in Ms Asher’s termination’.
The attorney told The New York Post: ‘It is only being raised now after Ms. Asher made complaints of gender discrimination and retaliation. Fox’s own filing admits that multiple male employees accused of serious misconduct were not terminated and, in some instances, were later promoted.’
Fox disputes these allegations.
