Katherine Merrill Dunham, known to Boston viewers as Kate Merrill, has ignited a fierce debate over workplace diversity initiatives after filing a federal lawsuit alleging she was demoted and ultimately forced out of her anchor position at WBZ-TV due to her race. The Emmy Award-winning journalist, whose sudden departure from the CBS affiliate in June 2025 surprised both colleagues and viewers, claims her exit was the result of a corporate push to meet diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) quotas—a charge that has put CBS, Paramount Global, and their DEI policies under the microscope.
Merrill’s lawsuit, filed in Boston federal court on August 5, 2025, contends that she was “exploited” by WBZ-TV and its parent companies in a bid to advance what she calls a “DEI agenda.” According to the complaint, Merrill, who spent two decades at the station and covered major events like the Boston Marathon bombings and multiple Patriots Super Bowls, alleges that managers described the morning show as “too white,” and that co-workers filed “malicious” race-based complaints against her. The suit points to a pattern of decision-making at the network that, she argues, prioritized diversity targets over individual merit and fairness.
“WBZ-TV exploited such policies and took career-ending action against Ms. Merrill to advance a DEI agenda,” the lawsuit reads, as reported by the New York Post. Merrill’s attorneys cite internal comments from CBS executives describing WBZ as “the least diverse station for on air talent” and “the whitest of all their stations.” These remarks, the suit claims, set the tone for a series of events that would lead to Merrill’s demotion and eventual resignation.
The trouble began in September 2023, when WBZ hired Jason Mikell, a Black meteorologist, while letting go of Zack Green, who is white. Merrill alleges that, just months later, on February 22, 2024, Mikell made an inappropriate sexual innuendo about her on air, implying she and her co-anchor had sexual relations at a gazebo. Despite complaints from Merrill’s executive producer, Mikell was not disciplined for the remark, according to the lawsuit. “On February 22, 2024, Defendant Mikell made an inappropriate sexual innuendo about Ms. Merrill on air. Specifically, he implied that Ms. Merrill and her co-anchor had sexual relations at a gazebo. Mikell was not disciplined for his sexually charged remark,” the complaint states, as reported by Fox News.
The situation escalated in April 2024, when Merrill privately texted Mikell to correct his mispronunciation of “Concord.” Mikell allegedly responded by loudly yelling at her on the studio floor—a confrontation Merrill described as aggressive and unprofessional. She immediately lodged a complaint with WBZ’s Human Resources department, but, according to the suit, no action was taken to investigate her complaints about Mikell’s behavior. Instead, Merrill was informed that an investigation was being conducted into allegations that she treated coworkers differently because of their race, allegations she “vehemently challenged,” maintaining that her actions were not motivated by racism or unconscious bias.
According to the lawsuit, Mikell accused Merrill of suggesting he would “find his people” in Boston, being “always” critical of him, and failing to ask him about his weekends. Merrill flatly denied these characterizations, calling Mikell’s complaints “false and misleading” and asserting that he acted “with malice and/or improper motive” in lodging them. As the investigation unfolded, Paramount’s vice president of employee relations, Michael Roderick, issued a report on May 27, 2024, accusing Merrill of “microaggressions or unconscious bias.” She was ordered to attend unconscious bias training and was threatened with termination if she made another misstep.
The following day, WBZ president and general manager Justin Draper announced Merrill’s demotion from her high-profile morning anchor slot to the weekend shift. According to the suit, this public demotion “sent the false message to her professional colleagues that she had engaged in serious wrongdoing.” Merrill’s union reportedly told her the move amounted to “career sabotage” and warned that she would “never recover” from it. Faced with the damage to her reputation and career, Merrill resigned days later, describing her exit as a “constructive discharge resignation.”
Merrill’s employment agreement with WBZ expired on June 1, 2025, and included a non-compete clause that prevented her from working in her field until after that date. The lawsuit asserts that this restriction, combined with the reputational harm and the loss of 20 unused vacation days, has resulted in significant financial losses for the veteran broadcaster.
The complaint further alleges that minority colleagues were spared similar punishment for misconduct, including an incident in which a Black reporter allegedly “physically threw” a co-worker against a wall. “The suit alleged male and minority colleagues were spared similar punishment for misconduct,” the New York Post notes, adding fuel to Merrill’s claim of uneven disciplinary standards under the station’s DEI policies.
These events played out against a backdrop of broader changes at CBS and Paramount. In 2021, CBS publicly declared that “diversity, equity and inclusion standards need to be a top priority for leadership in every corner,” a sentiment echoed by executives as they rolled out new hiring and promotion policies. Yet, in July 2024, CBS News president Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews—who herself had faced scrutiny over her hiring practices—stepped down, and Paramount announced earlier in 2025 that it would scrap its DEI programs, particularly as it prepared for a proposed merger with Skydance Media.
The case has become a flashpoint in the national conversation about DEI initiatives, workplace fairness, and the unintended consequences of corporate diversity policies. Supporters of DEI argue that such programs are essential for correcting historic inequities and ensuring a representative workforce. Critics, however, contend that rigid quotas and top-down mandates can lead to reverse discrimination, eroding morale and undermining the principle of merit-based advancement.
WBZ-TV and Mikell did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to Fox News. CBS and Paramount have likewise remained tight-lipped about the details of Merrill’s departure and the ongoing litigation. Meanwhile, Merrill is seeking damages to be determined at trial, hoping to recoup lost wages and restore her professional reputation.
As the lawsuit moves forward, it is likely to draw continued scrutiny from media observers, legal analysts, and employees across the broadcasting industry. With the future of corporate DEI programs in flux and public opinion sharply divided, the outcome of Merrill’s case could set an important precedent for how diversity initiatives are implemented—and challenged—in America’s newsrooms.
For now, the story of Kate Merrill stands as a vivid example of the complexities and controversies that can arise when the ideals of inclusion and fairness collide in the modern workplace.
