A video has surfaced appearing to show former Fox 2 Detroit anchor Taryn Asher using a profanity to describe her supervisor during a newsroom dispute. The footage, first reported by FTVLive and Deadline Detroit, has emerged amid a legal battle between Asher and WJBK-TV following her termination in November 2025.
Asher filed a lawsuit against the station alleging gender discrimination and retaliation for reporting the alleged bias. Fox 2 Detroit has denied these claims, stating that Asher was dismissed due to "unprofessional workplace behavior" and "outbursts." The network maintains the firing was based on her conduct rather than her gender or her internal complaints.
The newly surfaced video shows Asher arguing with an off-camera individual, presumed to be her boss, over the workflow for reviewing public service announcement scripts. After the individual appears to walk away, Asher is heard saying "B****" and later tells a crew member she is "done" with the supervisor's "antics." The network cited this and other incidents as the basis for her removal.
According to the lawsuit, Asher claims the station was firing female employees and replacing them with men, while also providing fewer interview opportunities to women. She cited an instance where she believed a booked interview was reassigned to her co-anchor, Roop Raj. Fox 2 Detroit disputed this, stating the interview remained hers and that Asher yelled at the crew over the misunderstanding.
The scale of the dispute centers on Asher’s individual employment contract and the internal culture of a major metropolitan news station. While specific dollar amounts for the lawsuit were not reported, the outcome will determine whether Asher is entitled to damages for lost wages and alleged retaliatory firing. The legal findings will clarify whether the station's actions toward female staff members, who Asher claims were being replaced by men, constitute a systemic pattern of discrimination or individual disciplinary actions.
For the public and media industry, the concrete day-to-day change involves the standard of behavior expected when employees are "off-mic" but still within the workplace. The emergence of the video highlights how recorded newsroom interactions can be used as evidence in employment litigation. A final decision on the lawsuit is not yet known, as the network and Asher have both been requested for further comment regarding the recently emerged footage.