Joan Lunden Says a Television Executive Harassed Her and Tried to Derail Her Career

A respected television icon has lifted the curtain on a chilling moment from the start of her career, claiming a powerful newsroom superior lured her to what she thought was a work gathering before the situation took a disturbing turn that left her feeling trapped, frightened, and betrayed.

The veteran broadcaster, now 75, is revealing the unsettling episode in her new memoir, "Joan: Life Beyond the Script." The book details an alleged incident involving a colleague who she says attempted to make an unwanted advance, and later tried to quietly sabotage her career after she refused.

A Promising Career Shadowed by a Disturbing Encounter

In the memoir, the longtime journalist reflects on the early days of her television career — a time when she was still finding her footing in a competitive newsroom.

She joined WABC-TV's Eyewitness News in New York in 1975, co-anchoring weekend broadcasts while working to establish her reputation.

Among the colleagues she encountered during that period was a man she refers to in the book as "Ted," who often helped her edit stories in the newsroom.

At first, their working relationship appeared entirely professional. But one invitation soon set the stage for a deeply uncomfortable and unexpected situation.

Ted invited her to what he described as an Eyewitness News gathering on Fire Island, encouraging her to attend so she could spend time with colleagues outside the newsroom.

"'You should come along, Joan,' said Ted. 'It will be a good opportunity for you to socialize with the rest of the team,'" she revealed.

She agreed, explaining that she had not yet built many friendships at the station and worried she might feel left out if she declined. But when they arrived at the destination, she quickly realized something was very wrong.

A Trip That Quickly Turned Into Something Else

Instead of the professional gathering she expected, only two other people were present at the house — a reporter from another station and his girlfriend.

Almost immediately, she realized the supposed newsroom event had turned into what appeared to be an overnight double date she never agreed to.

The realization left her shaken and embarrassed. She wrote, "I was embarrassed that I'd been so naive as to let this situation unfold, and I was offended as a woman that a guy—my superior at work—thought he could get away with this! He assumed that I would just go along with it."

She also described feeling physically and emotionally trapped by the situation, especially because of the island’s location. "I was also scared because it felt like there was no way out."

By that point, she explained, it was already evening — and leaving the island would not have been easy. Determined to address the situation, she confronted him directly. But according to her account, he brushed off her concerns.

She claims the situation escalated further when he attempted to pressure her into sharing a bedroom with him. But she refused.

Instead, she spent the night on a sofa before leaving early the next morning, determined to put the unsettling episode behind her. But the ordeal, she says, was far from over.

The Career Fallout She Says Followed

When she returned to work the following Monday, she says the atmosphere in the newsroom had suddenly shifted. The colleague who had invited her to Fire Island began behaving very differently. "I was about to find out that hell hath no fury like a man scorned," she stated.

According to her account, he started quietly removing her stories from the show's lineup. At the time, television reporters earned a base salary but also received additional pay when their stories aired. So, because her reports were no longer being broadcast, she said the situation began affecting her income as well as her professional reputation.

The alleged retaliation continued for months before she decided she had endured enough. Eventually, she called him into her office and confronted him head-on. She accused him directly of deliberately keeping her work off the air.

"We both know you're keeping my stories off the air for no valid reason," she said. "I know it and you know it, and everyone else in the newsroom knows it."

She also warned that she was ready to take legal action. "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."

According to her memoir, the warning had an immediate impact. So, instead of immediately filing a lawsuit, she decided to give him one final chance to correct his behavior. And soon after the confrontation, she said the retaliation stopped.

From Early Setbacks to Morning Television Fame

Despite the troubling early episode, the broadcaster went on to become one of the most recognizable faces in American morning television. She later joined "Good Morning America," where she spent years as one of the show's leading anchors.

During that time, she even sparked national conversation by bringing her infant daughter to work while breastfeeding — something rarely discussed publicly on television during the late 1970s.

She explained that she approached the network through her agent to ask for permission. "I said to my agent, 'Will you call them and tell them that I need to bring the baby with me because I'm breastfeeding?'"

At the time, she said, the word itself was seldom spoken on television. But the network agreed, and the moment quickly became a major story. She recalled, "The breaking story of that day became the fact that a major media company was allowing a woman to be a mom."

Another Blow and a Career Reinvented

Her time on "Good Morning America" eventually came to an end after more than a decade. She later said sexism and ageism played a role in the decision.

According to her account, she was replaced by what she described as a "30-year-old version" of herself when she was 47. Even so, she chose not to publicly fight the move. "I believe in going out with class."

After leaving the program, she continued working in television and produced a series of investigative specials titled Behind Closed Doors. The series explored a wide range of topics, including investigations into the Centers for Disease Control and life inside prisons. But another dramatic chapter in her life would come years later.

In 2014, doctors discovered two tumors in her right breast during a routine medical screening. The diagnosis stunned her. "I had always considered myself a picture of health," she said. "Then, in June 2014, I heard those words: You have cancer."

An ultrasound revealed tumors that had not appeared on her mammogram, and she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. The revelation marked another life-altering challenge for the veteran broadcaster.

Family Life and a New Chapter

Away from the spotlight, she has built a large and close-knit family. She shares three daughters — Jamie, Lindsay, and Sarah — with her first husband, television producer Michael A. Krauss. The couple divorced in 1992.

In 2000, she married Jeff Konigsberg. The couple later welcomed twins Kate and Max through surrogacy in 2003, followed by another set of twins, Jack and Kim, in 2005.

Today, she often shares moments with her children and grandchildren on social media. She recently celebrated the 21st birthday of her youngest twins, Jack and Kim, marking the milestone with special experiences and heartfelt posts.

Decades after her early television career, the veteran broadcaster continues to attract attention for her energy and appearance. In a recent magazine cover photo shared online, she appeared wearing a pink blazer and jeans — a look that drew praise from fans.

One admirer commented, "You are still so beautiful, Joan, as always. I love you." Another wrote, "Joan looks great ❤️." And one fan gushed, "Joan is more gorgeous than ever!"

Revisiting the Moments That Shaped Her Life

Through her memoir "Joan: Life Beyond the Script," the television icon is revisiting the pivotal moments that shaped her career and personal life.

From confronting alleged retaliation in the newsroom to breaking barriers for working mothers on television, the stories reveal a career defined by resilience and determination.

The book also revisits the unsettling early incident Joan Lunden says tested her resolve and nearly derailed her future in broadcasting — a moment she now feels ready to share openly.