Boston-based TV anchor sues local CBS station, alleging targeted discrimination against white employees under corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
In August 2025, Katherine Merrill Dunham, a long-time anchor at WBZ-TV, filed a lawsuit against the CBS affiliate and its parent company Paramount Global. Merrill, also known as Kate Merrill, claims she was demoted due to corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) quotas aimed at increasing non-white representation [1][2][4].
The lawsuit alleges that WBZ-TV targeted Merrill because she is white, as executives worried the station was becoming “too white” [2][3][4]. Merrill was accused of “microaggressions” and “unconscious bias” against two Black colleagues after raising concerns about a Black meteorologist's on-air behaviour, while that colleague faced no consequences for a sexually charged remark towards her [2][3][4].
Following her demotion from weekday morning co-anchor to weekend nights in May 2024, Merrill was unable to work in her field due to a non-competition clause in her contract until June 2025, causing financial losses [1][4]. The suit seeks damages for reputational harm, lost income, and unpaid vacation days, totaling a reported $4 million [3].
Paramount Global, in response, had announced plans to eliminate DEI policies amid a merger with Skydance Media [1]. As of late August 2025, the lawsuit is newly filed and active, with no public record of resolution or court rulings yet available. Merrill’s allegations focus on race and gender discrimination tied to CBS’s DEI efforts at WBZ-TV [1][2][3][4][5].
The lawsuit claims WBZ-TV exploited diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies imposed by parent corporations CBS and Paramount Global, and took career-ending action against Merrill to advance a companywide DEI agenda. The lawsuit also states that WBZ, CBS, and Paramount did not investigate previous complaints lodged by Merrill's colleagues about Mikell's "sexually charged" comment on air about Merrill [3].
Mikell, the Black meteorologist hired by WBZ in September 2023, is listed as a defendant in the lawsuit. Mikell allegedly made an inappropriate sexual innuendo about Merrill on air in February 2024, implying they had sexual relations at a gazebo, and was not disciplined for his remark [2][3]. Merrill lodged a complaint with WBZ's Human Resources department about Mikell's aggressive confrontation and threatening treatment, but no action was taken to investigate [2].
Merrill denies any of her actions, inactions, or comments were motivated by overt racism or unconscious bias [4]. However, she was informed of an investigation into allegations that she treated coworkers differently because of their race [4]. Merrill’s colleagues and senior leaders at SAG-AFTRA advised her that the demotion constituted “career sabotage” from which her career would never recover [4].
Notably, CBS acknowledged diversity, equity, and inclusion standards as a top priority moving forward in 2021 [5]. The lawsuit comes amidst a broader conversation about DEI practices in the media industry, with CBS' parent company, Paramount, promising to eliminate DEI policies last month ahead of a planned merger with Skydance Media [1].
The lawsuit's filing comes at a time when the media industry is under increased scrutiny for its handling of diversity and inclusion issues. In a separate incident, Stephen Colbert made jokes about the merger between Paramount and SkyDance, using their new stock ticker symbol, PSKY, in a pee-related manner.
[1] Boston Globe, "Katherine Merrill files lawsuit against WBZ, CBS, and Paramount Global over demotion, discrimination claims," August 2025. [2] Boston Herald, "WBZ meteorologist Kate Merrill files lawsuit against CBS, Paramount Global," August 2025. [3] Variety, "Katherine Merrill Sues WBZ, CBS, and Paramount Global for Racial Discrimination," August 2025. [4] CNN, "WBZ meteorologist Kate Merrill files lawsuit against CBS, Paramount Global over demotion," August 2025. [5] CBS News, "CBS announces diversity, equity, and inclusion as top priority moving forward," 2021.
