The shooting of Lisa for films stirs controversy over sexism and ageism in Canada

LaFlamme, which has covered the biggest stories of its time, including elections, wars and natural disasters, posted a video on Twitter Monday announcing that it had been informed in late June that her career with CTV News had ended after parent company Bell Media decided to terminate her contract. She has been with the network for 35 years and has less than two years left on her contract, according to the Globe and Mail.

“I was shocked and continue to be shocked and saddened by Bell Media’s decision,” Laflame said, adding that she had been asked to keep the shooting secret for weeks.

“At 58, I still think I’ll have more time to tell more stories that affect our daily lives,” she told her followers. “While it is amazing to have to leave CTV National News in a way that is not my choice, I hope you know that reporting to you has truly been the greatest honor of my life and I thank you for always being there.”

in statement On Monday, CTV said it had made a “commercial decision” to take a “different direction” for the lead news anchor role, citing a “changing viewer’s habits.” the network announce On the same day as National Affairs Correspondent Omar Sachedina, 39, he takes over.

The release of LaFlamme drew condemnation from viewers, peers In the media industry and prominent personalities in Canada, including the retired Grammy Award-winning singer Ann Murray.

Canadian media continued to cover the fallout, with reports citing various factors behind the launch of LaFlamme, including clashes between broadcaster and CTV News head Michael Melling over resources devoted to covering the war in Ukraine, among others.

But one method of speculation has struck a chord among Canadian women who are left wondering: Was it the hair?

LaFlamme made headlines when she stopped dyeing her hair in 2020. During a year-long special, she told viewers that the pandemic had prevented her from visiting her hairdresser, and she was tired of spraying her roots every day before going on air, according to the Globe and Mail. “Finally I said, ‘Why bother?’ She said. ‘Honestly, if I had known that lockdown could be so liberating on that front, I would have done it a lot sooner.'”

The move resonated with Canadian women who faced societal pressure to dye their hair. But it clearly annoyed CTV News CEO Michael Melling’s feathers, I mentioned the Globe and Mail.

A senior CTV official told the newspaper that Melling asked who agreed with the decision to “let Lisa’s hair go gray” and later commented on the purple color of LaFlamme’s locks under studio lighting.

Canadian women took to Twitter this week to celebrate the former anchor for embracing her gray hair and owning her tooth.

Sarah M, a Twitter user, wrote on Monday, calling CTV News’ decision a “fatal mistake.”

Others worried about the shooting of LaFlamme will send a message For middle-aged women, they may face professional consequences if they choose a more natural look.

Many have suggested that sexism and ageism played a role in LaFlamme’s dismissal. Some media experts pointed out That her predecessor, Lloyd Robertson, retired from the role of main announcer at the age of 77 and got a broadcast.

Bell Media did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

“LaFlamme has made an important contribution to Canadian television news over the past 35 years,” read a statement Bell Media posted on Twitter Monday, signed by company president Wade Oosterman and senior vice president Karine Moses. The statement added that the company would begin an “internal workplace audit of our newsroom” from an independent third party.

LaFlamme’s sacking pushed some into it Call to overthrow MeilingCanadian media reported that CTV News had to do damage control with its employees.

Moses said in an email to staff that LaFlamme had the opportunity to say goodbye to viewers before leaving the announcer’s chair, but “chose not to say goodbye to the audience,” according to the Canadian broadcaster. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported. Moses wrote that the change in anchor was part of a shift toward digital content creation in the news outlet.

The backlash for LaFlamme’s release sparked a backlash. In right-wing circles, figures such as Maxime Bernier, president of the far-right People’s Party of Canada, seize the moment To divert attention to Canadian companies firing thousands of workers who refused coronavirus vaccines.

Meanwhile, some prominent media personalities, lamented The controversy surrounding LaFlamme’s expulsion has obscured the importance of appointing her replacement. Sachedina, an award-winning reporter who has worked for CTV News since 2009, was born in Canada to parents of Indian origin from Uganda – an underrepresented background in Canadian media.

“A Muslim man runs the largest national news program – History,” Global News journalist Ahmar Khan TWeigh. “But diversity doesn’t cover the abuse gaps.”

Sammy Westphal and Amanda Coletta contributed to this report.