Legendary Good Morning America host Joan Lunden made a shocking revelation about her early days in television.
The 75-year-old media personality revealed that one of the early bosses in her career had romantically propositioned her and punished her by keeping her off air after she turned him down.
The television icon wrote about the early stages of her career on New York's WABC-TV Eyewitness News, which she joined in 1975 where she co-anchored weekend newscasts, in her new memoir Joan: Life Beyond the Script.
During that period in her career, she had worked with a colleague - whom she refers to in the book as 'Ted' - that would help her edit her stories when things took an interesting turn as he invited her to a hang out on Fire Island off Long Island, New York.
"You should come along, Joan," said Ted. "It will be a good opportunity for you to socialize with the rest of the team,"' she wrote in the book via People.
'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. I'd never been to the famed Fire Island before. I'd heard that no cars were allowed on the island, so you had to take a ferry to get there.'
However, when she and 'Ted' arrived to the home where the gathering was supposed to take place on Fire Island there were only two others there - a local WCBS reporter and his girlfriend - then she realized that it was an attempt at an overnight double-date.
She admitted being 'embarrassed' and 'naive' that she had been roped into the situation in addition to being 'offended' that her superior thought they could get away with pulling the wool over her eyes.
Lunden wrote: '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.'
The television star went on to have a conversation with 'Ted' about it as she told him it was 'not what I signed up for' but he tried to charm her and ultimately convinced her to stay.
However, things got even more uneasy as 'Ted' pressured her to sleep in the bedroom with him but she opted to sleep on the uncomfortable sofa and left first thing in the morning but things got even more awkward when she arrived to the office on Monday.
Lunden explained: 'I was about to find out that hell hath no fury like a man scorned. Ted started killing my stories -- meaning he kept my stories from making the show lineup for one reason or another.'
'I felt vulnerable and helpless. Not only that, but my reputation also took a hit because a) it had become known that I went to Fire Island with my immediate superior, and b) it was obvious to everyone that my stories weren't making air.'
As if that wasn't uncomfortable enough, at the time television reporters were paid a base salary an additional fee for each story that appeared on air so if they didn't, you would make a considerable amount less.
During that period in her career, she had worked with a colleague - whom she refers to in the book as 'Ted' - that would help her edit her stories when things took an interesting turn as he invited her to a hang out on Fire Island off Long Island, New York
She admitted being 'embarrassed' and 'naive' that she had been roped into the situation in addition to being 'offended' that her superior thought they could get away with pulling the wool over her eyes
Lunden said that 'Ted' had kept his grudge against her for a few months until she finally put her foot down
Lunden said that 'Ted' had kept his grudge against her for a few months until she finally put her foot down.
She wrote that she told him: 'This has to stop. Now. I'm not putting up with it another day. We both know you're keeping my stories off the air for no valid reason'
'I know it and you know it, and everyone else in the newsroom knows it. It's pure revenge on your part, and it happens to be discriminatory, not to mention you're affecting my income. I've spoken with my agent and my lawyer, and they've both advised me to file suit against you and WABC-TV for sexual harassment and sexual discrimination, and they say I'm going to win.'
Lunden said that the bold move 'got his attention' and that she could see in his face that she got her message across.
She wrote: 'Before he even had a chance to respond, I closed with, "Against my lawyer's advice, I'm going to give you one chance, today, to rectify this situation. It's not because you deserve it; it's only to avoid the legal process. But hear me: If I detect even a whiff that this is still happening, I promise you I will tell the lawyers to go ahead and file the suit they have prepared."'
Shortly thereafter, 'Ted' changed his tune which 'vindicated' Lunden.
Years later she went on to become a national star as she became co-anchor of Good Morning America in 1979.
She enjoyed nearly two decades on the groundbreaking news and talk show as she worked alongside David Hartman and Charlie Gibson until 1997.
Since then she has been a special correspondent for NBC's Today.
In 2021, she became the host of public television program Second Opinion.
The media star has also authored over ten books since 1986.
In June 2014,she famously revealed that she had been diagnosed with breast canceras she finished her treatments the following year in June 2015.
Lunden's memoir Joan: Life Beyond the Script is out on March 3.