KY3 reporter Linda Simmons has been fired from the Springfield, Mo. NBC-affiliate after she refused to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
Station owner Gray Television had mandated that all employees must be vaccinated by Oct. 1.
Simmons, who has worked at the station for 14 years, announced her departure last Friday in a Facebook post.
“I value the freedom we all have to make our own informed decisions. I’ve made a big decision and decided not to allow the company that owns KY3, Gray Television, to control my personal health choices,” she said.
“I did not comply with their vaccine mandate after my exemption request was denied. I will miss you all, and I am sad to be leaving this way, but I have confidence that I am doing God’s will for me. I trust that He has good plans in store!!” she added.
During an appearance Monday with KSGF’s Nick Reed, Simmons said she was one of three KY3 employees terminated due to a refusal to be vaccinated.
“God was showing me things and showing the reasons that I didn’t need to get [the vaccine],” she said.
Simmons is the third Gray employee that has gone public in recent weeks about being terminated due to their vaccination refusal. Michigan meteorologist Karl Bohnak was fired from WLUC last week, and WTVM sports anchor Dave Platta was forced out of the Georgia station.