Shortly after Michael Melling became head of CTV News, he raised questions about host Lisa LaFlamme’s hair.
She explained the decision in the network’s year-in-review special, saying that because of the pandemic she couldn’t visit her hair colourist and was having to spray her roots every day before going on air. “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.”Ms. LaFlamme’s sudden ouster has prompted anger, confusion and speculation within CTV.
One of the newscast’s staff members recalled an argument that took place around the time of the start of the war in Ukraine. The network was sending a crew to the country to cover the Russian invasion. Ms. LaFlamme advocated for CTV to book hotel rooms in Krakow, Poland, in case the crew members needed to retreat quickly from Ukraine. Mr. Melling raised concerns about the cost. After a protracted argument, the rooms were booked.
After more arguments, a scaled-down team was allowed to make the trip, but they had to forfeit a pricey shooting location near Buckingham Palace. Instead, they covered the jubilee from a hotel balcony in Trafalgar Square, which was significantly cheaper, but farther from the event. Staff members said Ms. LaFlamme and Ms. Hwang were tough and at times very demanding, but that they were also respected, professional and made sure everyone had a chance to voice their opinion.
globeandmail During the early days of Covid-19 and Ms. LaFlamme's 'roots were showing', I was impressed with that bravery. When she was completely gray, I thought it was stunning! A wonderful statement that aging is fine.
globeandmail Outrageous discrimination, nothing to do with the excellence of her work !
MariekeWalsh globeandmail If that's why they let her go, hair colour, those exes need fired! It's mysoginistic to the core. A guy goes grey sure they have no issue. Not that it should matter but her hair colour looks fabulous & natural. If true this is just crap & good reason to turn off CTV
Unbelievably petty man.
“News”
Imagine thinking having gray hair was a bad thing when more than half your viewers have gray hair. This not only is ageism, and sexist, its bad business.
globeandmail would love to know what Melling looks like and importantly what kind of women he hires/works with...
And they say letting her go has nothing to do with misogyny. Michael Melling should find a suitable job in a hair salon.
globeandmail I LOVED her hair! It was majestic, unapologetic, and gorgeous. I can only hope that I, one day can have that hair.
er hair? I would have asked it was that flabby turkey neck she has.
divergentTea globeandmail This is really gross misogyny in full display. I haven't tuned in to CTV news since and won't be doing so anytime soon.
FireMichaelMelling
globeandmail Why does this guy have a job?
globeandmail Perhaps he wanted pink … who knows ?
storiesbyjemay Lisa approved it
globeandmail LisaLaFlamme_ has gorgeous hair. As someone else who is letter her grey hair grow in naturally, I was thrilled to see what she did with hers. CTVNews is behind the times if they think it was a bad move to let her natural hair colour prevail. Grey is very in right now!
MariekeWalsh globeandmail Team Trudeau want to have CRTC police online traffic. CRTC is made up of former Bell, Rogers, Shaw, etc Corporate Types. Am I understanding The Narrative around LaFlamme correctly; Corporate types put $$$ ahead of 'what's right'? Should CRTC Police internet?
Male chauvinist and control freak. Typical new generation 😠 No respect for mature and professional people.
globeandmail She has amazing hair.
Ok, let's question all balding and greying middle age men? Seriously? BellMediaPR shame on you
Grey hair is awesome though. I was so happy when I got my first one and felt sad when I found it on my hair brush after.....a head of natural grey hair is the dream.
globeandmail I thought she had great hair, great volume. Not that it mattered per se but I also love the colour. It also seems like such a tinkering thing to do when the issue for all media is a serious drop in ratings. How lame is it to think 'maybe it's her hair colour/showing her age'.)
I remember they made the same comments when Lloyd Robertson’s hair started to grey.
globeandmail That industry is all about image so why are people shocked that one person gets fired because they do not fit the image the company wants to put out. In essence she should be happy she got 35 years out of a private corporation. What is so terribly about making room for others
Tabloid quality
Looks like michael_melling is the one who needs to be booted out of CTVNews BellMediaPR
What?
globeandmail I thought the change was fantastic and more natural for her. What a Twerp!
All people should be prepared to leave by 55. Maybe doctors, pharmacists and vice presidents are okay but nobody else.
globeandmail That is the biggest load of crap I have read today .
EmmMacfarlane I wanna know who approved the decision to let *my* hair go grey…
I can see where this is going. I would not want to be in Mr. Melling’s shoes right now!
What?! I loved when she went grey, made her look even classier than she already was.
Wow
Hair you can trust!
Ummmm....excuse me?! 😡
Nature approved of letting her hair go grey!
Later, Mr. Melling would be the one to tell Ms. LaFlamme that she was being ousted from her role as anchor of CTV National News, one of the country’s most-watched newscasts – an unexpected removal that she announced earlier this week.
It was Laflamme’s embracing her natural colour that made me love her even more. To hell with men and their unnatural preferences!
So what? So instead of her hiding your age and grey hairs she embraced it. Such total bull shit
Sound journalism isn’t defined by hair colour.
Her grey hair was hot, her yellow crooked smile not so much. HD tvism.
I would highly suggest to fact BCE’s overall misogyny in the last 20 years… I guarantee you you will have quite the news story
So sexism and ageism really is in full swing at CTVNews , just like we thought.
Well Melling seems nice. 😏
And CTV. BELL execs have gone rotten 🤬👎 CTVNews bell
How can the globe honestly cover this story in good faith when they along with CTV have the same ownership. I stopped reading the article because it did not read as honest journalism.
Something that should be celebrated ...not questioned!
infuriating… i don’t remember lloyd robertson other than w gray hair .. so dudes ok w grays, ladies not, mkayyyiii