Iconic newsreader Lisa LaFlamme was allegedly fired for refusing to dye her gray hair
TORONTO, ONTARIO: A top Canadian newsreader, who was allegedly fired after she stopped dyeing her gray hair, revealed that her decision of letting her locks grow gray attracted more attention than her sensational reports from dangerous war zones. Lisa LaFlamme, 58, lost her job at CTV News on June 29, 2022, when the firm unexpectedly made a ‘business decision’ of her ending her contract after 35 years of service.
The renowned news anchor was unable to reveal the details of her departure but said she was caught off guard by the response her gray hair garnered, which she asserts was more than that for her reports. "The most comments I ever received were not for months in Baghdad or Afghanistan, or any story, but when I let my hair grow gray — bar none," LaFlamme told The New York Times. "And I will say this, 98% positive, except a couple of men and a woman — it's funny that I can actually remember that — but they were summarily destroyed on social media because women do support women," she added.
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LaFlamme also noted that she was left amazed by the support, she received following her departure. Some established brands, including Wendy’s, stood strong with LaFlamme and supported her during the tough time. To reflect their support, Wendy's Canada temporarily switched their mascot's locks from red to gray while Dove Canada published adverts on her behalf. The Globe and Mail also published an open letter from well-known Canadians, denouncing the company’s decision of firing her over "the color of her hair."
On my list of most inspiring people: Purity Gikuna - With almost no resources she is keeping teenage mothers as young as 13, in school and off on the streets. Sarafina is one of her top students. I'll have her story for @jhrnews pic.twitter.com/bhehrZdMxk
— Lisa LaFlamme (@LisaLaFlamme_) February 11, 2023
Why Lisa LaFlamme stopped dyeing her hair?
"People are so amazingly kind," the news anchor said. LaFlamme added, "The support has been mind-blowing. It's really been a shock to me." LaFlamme said she started dyeing her hair at the age of 20 and carried Nice 'n Easy over-the-counter dye with her when she went on reporting trips, according to Daily Mail. LaFlamme even recalled an instance when she dyed her hair in the women's toilet at Kandahar Airfield and in a Baghdad bunker.
She then felt compelled to begin using spray coloring at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic. "There was hair dye on my pillowcases — and I also had menopause and had night sweats — and the pillowcases were disgusting," she said. She soon made a tough decision and quit dyeing her hair when the second round of lockdowns in Canada started.
What did CTV say about Lisa LaFlamme's departure?
However, as per The Globe and Mail, the then-head of CTV was not very happy with LaFlamme’s decision as he asked in a meeting who had approved the decision to "let Lisa's hair go gray." LaFlamme, who was upset over not being able to go on her own terms, also released a video on Twitter in August. "I guess this is my sign-off from CTV," she said in the video. LaFlamme added, "While it is crushing to be leaving CTV National News in a manner that is not my choice, please know that reporting to you has been the greatest honor of life."
On the other hand, Bell Media, which controls CTV, asserted that that narrative was incorrect but it also declined to provide the real reasoning behind LaFlamme’s firing. "The narrative has been that LaFlamme's age, gender, or gray hair played into the decision. I am satisfied that this is not the case and wanted to make sure you heard it from me," CEO Mirko Bibic wrote on LinkedIn. The CEO added, 'While I would like to say more on the Bell Media decision, we are bound by a mutual separation agreement negotiated with Lisa, which we will continue to honor.'