TV6 loses another personality in the face of the vaccine mandate | News, Sports, Jobs



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Sarah blakely

MARQUETTE – Another TV6 News personality has left the TV station, in part due to a mandate that all WLUC-TV6 employees must be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Sarah Blakely, former co-host of “The first news from TV6” and “News TV6 tonight” announced on Facebook on Wednesday that she was no longer employed by TV6. She cited station owner Gray Television imposing a vaccination warrant as one of the main reasons for her departure.

“So when the policy was announced (exacerbating my anxiety), I was given the opportunity to file an exemption, but I chose not to in favor of letting them fire me. I was so miserable that I wanted to leave for months but was trapped by my contract, so this policy was, in many ways, my escape route. My last day would have been September 30, but I decided to quit earlier because I just couldn’t spend a second longer ”, Blakely wrote in the long post.

According to Gray Television, all new full-time and part-time employees of their 162 stations were to be “fully vaccinated” against the virus by September 1. The policy has been expanded to include all managers effective September 15. By October 1, all other employees, as well as outside contractors, tenants and guests entering workspaces, should be fully vaccinated.

“We will make accommodations for employees with medical or religious needs”, The Atlanta-based broadcasting company said in a statement posted on its website.

The new policy also led to the dismissal of longtime TV6 meteorologist Karl Bohnak, who announced his own departure from the station for refusing the vaccine on his personal Facebook page on September 15. In her own post, Blakely criticized the station management, alleging that the station manager described Bohnak’s departure as “just a hit.”

“Getting the COVID vaccine does not have a monopoly on how to take care of yourself and others, and right now I am taking steps to take care of the part of my health that is suffering tremendously. No, I’m not doing well. But I will be one day ”, wrote in his post.

Much of Blakely’s post revolved around alleged sexual harassment by another TV6 news personality. Blakely alleged the man repeatedly harassed her, made disturbing comments about her to other employees, could be overheard “undo his pants” behind her in the make-up room, told others that she suffered from a mental illness that she had not been diagnosed with and had entered her home uninvited. “profess his love.”

She also alleged that the station mismanaged her complaints and a human resources investigation conducted by the company. She claimed that the individual was subsequently fired for reasons unrelated to his allegations of sexual harassment.

“(He) now has an arrest warrant against him for entering my home uninvited, so at least someone will finally hold him accountable for his misconduct,” he added. Blakely said.

The Daily Press does not name victims of sexual harassment or assault unless they have spoken publicly about the incident outside a courtroom. It is also not the policy of the Daily Press to name those accused of crimes before they appear in court.

The individual accused by Blakely has yet to be arraigned on criminal charges, but according to the 96th Marquette District Court, an arraignment hearing for the man is scheduled for Oct. 7 at 8:15 a.m. via Zoom. He will be charged with break and enter without the owner’s permission.

According to a second post from Blakely on Wednesday, her original post was deleted by Facebook because it went against the site. “Community Standards on Harassment and Bullying. “ The post was restored Thursday afternoon.

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