Former WXYZ reporter Tara Edwards is filing a federal lawsuit again longtime Detroit anchor Malcom Maddox. She says suffered years of sexual and emotional abuse while working for the Scripps-owned station.
“Imagine how difficult it was to be so helpless so hopeless and voiceless in my own nightmare for so long,” Edwards said during a press conference yesterday.
The lawsuit alleges that Maddox spread false rumors about Edwards at work and told co-workers that he was having an affair with her and might be the father of her then unborn child. The suit also says the station did nothing to stop the harassment even though she filed complaints. Instead, they switched her shift.
“I am finally in a place where I feel strong enough to stand up,” she said.
According to the Detroit Free Press which obtained a copy of the lawsuit, examples of the inappropriate conduct include:
Maddox tried many times to kiss Edwards on the face and mouth at work.
Maddox sent written notes to Edwards, calling her “little girl” and told her that she has not “met anyone like (him) and that extends further than you can possibly imagine.”
Maddox frequently asked her to engage in unwanted and unsolicited sexual acts that “she found to be deviant and perverse.”
His alleged sexual propositions included asking her if he could spit in (her) mouth and urinate on her during sexual activity.
Maddox allegedly forced Edwards to view sexually explicit pictures and videos and showed Edwards a nude photo of female colleague at WXYZ while they were anchoring the weekend morning news.
Edwards worked at the station from 2011-2016. She is seeking $100 million in damages.
Maddox is the morning anchor at the station. He was suspended briefly in 2015 while Scripps investigated sexual harassment claims that the company later determined to be unfounded.