McGurren Sues Hubbard Radio For Protecting Ferguson 'At Any Cost'

Chicago IL

15 October, 2021

3:18 PM

Description

CHICAGO — Former Eric in the Morning co-host Melissa McGurren has filed a lawsuit against the parent company of The Mix show after she said Hubbard Radio Chicago defended Eric Ferguson against multiple allegations of misconduct. McGurren filed the $10 million defamation lawsuit in Cook County Court on Thursday, making her the fourth woman to lodge allegations of sexual and professional misconduct at the Radio Hall of Famer. Representatives from the Hubbard-owned WTMX 101.9-FM told reporters Ferguson will be off the air for the rest of October while the company conducts their own investigation into the claims of sexual harassment and creating a toxic work environment. McGurren filed an earlier complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, stating Ferguson created an "unbearable hostile work environment." The most recent suit — signed by another former employee — accuses the company of protecting Ferguson despite his sexist behavior being well-known. McGurren ultimately left in 2020 and later posted an emotional video on Instagram saying, "The truth will come out." At the time, she also said the statement put out by The Mix regarding her departure was "not accurate." Former co-host on another WTMX show Jennifer Ashrafi echoed McGurren's explanation as her reason for leaving as well. Ashrafi and McGurren became the third and fourth women to accuse Ferguson following former producer Cynthia DeNicolo and former sales employee Kristen Mori, who said Ferguson groped her at a holiday party and station management "turned a blind eye." EARLIER: 'Eric In The Morning' Host Coerced Sexual Favors: Ex-WTMX Staffer In a statement, Hubbard Vice President Jeff England said the company's internal investigation showed no wrongdoing, though McGurren's lawsuit calls the company's efforts a "sham investigation." "It is humiliating to watch and dehumanizing to know that nothing can be done because the management at The Mix approved Ferguson's misconduct by their silence in not reprimanding him," Ashrafi, who went by Jennifer Roberts on air, claimed in the filing. "A lot of people get prematurely put 'on the beach' in this business and I'm thrilled that I'm making my exit completely on my terms," she tweeted at the time.