Joan Lunden Today: The Television Executive Who Tried to Ruin Her Career

Seasoned television journalist Joan Lunden is speaking candidly about a distressing experience from the beginning of her career. In her freshly released memoir, Joan: Life Beyond the Script, she reveals that a TV executive once made an inappropriate advance toward her. Following her rejection of his behavior, the atmosphere at her workplace rapidly shifted.

Lunden, who would eventually achieve fame as a co-host on Good Morning America, details this ordeal in her new book. She notes that the encounter took place during her tenure at the New York-based WABC-TV station in the 1970s.

Back then, Lunden was just starting out in the television industry. Based on her account, one of her superiors asked her to attend what was presented as a professional get-together with coworkers. However, upon arrival, it became clear that it was actually an intimate retreat—and the executive had intentions that went well beyond professional matters.

“I was embarrassed that I’d been so naive as to let this situation unfold, and I was offended as a woman that a guy—my superior at work—thought he could get away with this! He assumed that I would just go along with it,” Lunden expresses in her memoir, as reported by People. “I was also scared because it felt like there was no way out. It was evening and the sky was getting darker by the minute. You can’t just walk outside a home on Fire Island and hail a cab to take you back to your apartment.”

Joan Lunden

Lunden states that she rebuffed his advances. Consequently, she observed a drastic shift in how she was treated back at the station.

The 75-year-old author explains that this boss began turning down her story pitches and preventing her segments from making it to air. Since reporters frequently earned additional compensation when their pieces were broadcast, this retaliation directly impacted her financial livelihood.

However, the financial loss wasn’t the most painful aspect, she notes. The deeper wound came from the underlying message—that female employees in the newsroom did not receive the same respect or treatment as their male counterparts. Lunden characterizes the entire ordeal as a clear case of both sexual harassment and workplace discrimination.

After enduring this toxic environment for some time, she resolved to fight back. Guided by counsel from her agent and lawyer, Lunden directly confronted the executive, issuing a warning that she would pursue legal action if his retaliatory behavior did not cease.

As stated in her memoir, this direct confrontation was successful. The retaliation ended, and they resumed a professional working relationship.

A Successful Career

Now 75, Lunden went on to forge an incredibly lengthy and prosperous path in television. She spent 17 years co-hosting Good Morning America, establishing herself as one of the most iconic and recognizable figures in morning broadcasting.

Reflecting on the past, she points out that this incident highlights just how hostile the professional environment could be for women during that era, particularly for those who were merely beginning their careers.

Today, Lunden remains outspoken about the professional hurdles she had to overcome. She hopes her experiences will help shed light on the progress that has been made, while also emphasizing the significant changes that are still necessary in the modern workplace.

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