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

This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
Joan Lunden is reporting on her own story.In her 11th book, “Joan: Life Beyond the Script,” out Tuesday, Lunden reveals that her former boss at New York’s WABC-TV “Eyewitness News” propositioned her, then retaliated against her after she denied his advances.Lunden joined “Eyewitness News” in 1975, anchoring their weekend news segment.
Lunden’s colleague, whom she refers to as “Ted” in the book, would help her edit stories.Ted invited her to Fire Island under the guise of a work get-together.
“‘You should come along, Joan,’ said Ted.‘It will be a good opportunity for you to socialize with the rest of the team,’” Lunden writes.
“Not having any close friendships in the newsroom, I was concerned that I would feel awkward and uncomfortable, like a tagalong.With some encouragement, I agreed to go.” Books Christina Applegate’s raw memoir, ‘You With the Sad Eyes,’ chronicles childhood trauma, sexual abuse and struggles with MS.However, when she arrived on Fire Island, she realized this was not a work retreat, but a double date.
The only other colleague was a WCBS-TV reporter and his girlfriend.“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 writes.
“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.”When she confronted Ted about his actions, he claimed the “original plan fell through,” but they should “just enjoy ourselves.” Lunden alleges Ted pressured her to sleep in the bed with him, but she refused and spent the night on the couch and left the next morning.Wh...