Embracing grey hair may have cost popular Canadian news anchor her job
Ageism charges are flying, and the network has promised an independent review of how it mishandled this
“Hate that grey? Wash it away!” was a popular TV commercial in my childhood. Now, with the widespread popularity of celebrating grey hair — boosted by many celebrities — that TV spot seems positively quaint.
As the Guardian reports, Andie MacDowell, Helen Mirren and Jodie Foster all appeared at Cannes last year with grey hair, and received much acclaim. McDowell called her new look “badass.” And on Instagram, the hashtag #greyhairdontcare has been used almost 500,000 times.
I could write a whole post on this trend, and stop right there. The feisty attitude toward aging — and the grey hairs that often go along with it — can only be admired, as far as I’m concerned.
But the story doesn’t end there — at least, not CTV, the Canadian television network owned by Bell Media.
They unceremoniously dumped Lisa LaFlamme, anchor of CTV News, one of the most-watched newscasts in the country. She had been in the role since 2011, and with the network for 35 years, and apparently had two years left on her contract.
This report from the Globe & Mail presents the key details. Two years ago, Lisa LaFlamme “made headlines and won praise from women across the country when she decided to stop dyeing her hair and let her natural silver locks grow out.”
Her reasons originated with the pandemic: she couldn’t visit her colorist and had to spray her roots every day before going on air. The article quotes her: “ “I finally said, ‘why bother? I’m going grey.’ Honestly, if I had known the lockdown could be so liberating on that front I would have done it a lot sooner.”
Fast forward to now, and she was ousted by Michael Melling, head of CTV News. Initially this was communicated as “a business decision,” but other information soon surfaced, including the report of a meeting in which Melling raised questions about her hair and asked who had approved the decision to let “Lisa’s hair go grey.”
Before long, there was a flurry of leaks, and the ageism issue (compounded, by now, by charges of sexism, because popular male news anchors had appeared for years with grey hair) had become serious enough that Bell issued a statement expressing regret as to how Ms. LaFlamme’s ouster had been handled. As reported here, they’ve gone a step further and promised an independent third-party “workplace review.”
Inevitably, I suppose, the leaks and off-the-record comments by CTV employees included other conflicts between Mr. Melling and Ms. LaFlamme, and its seems doubtful that this will all come down to grey hair alone. Still, the incident is very instructive because it provoked such and outcry and such a spirited defense of Lisa LaFlamme on this topic. On the one hand, it’s outrageous that Ms. LaFlamme would have to take such an unfair hit; on the other hand, it’s encouraging that ageism is no longer accepted meekly. If Bell Media is embarrassed, and if their “independent review” causes them to change their attitudes and policies, at least something good may come of this.
In the meantime, best wishes to Lisa LaFlamme who I am sure will go on to many future accomplishments.
Excellent, kindest regards
Michael Morris
www. Mentern.com
David, Thanks for this (hair) piece and giving more air to hair raising topics - silliness intended!
Seriously, I am glad this has come out and that the accomplished Lisa LaFlamme has the status to increase visibility for this ageism and feminism issue.
It's ridiculous that anyone is judged on what colour or style theirs is. It's even more ridiculous that corporations still make decisions like this.
I suggest Lisa LaFlamme is offered a new position as Mr. Melling's replacement.