Rudy Giuliani and Dr. Maria Ryan, former hosts at WABC radio station, find themselves at the center of a legal dispute.
Dr. Maria Ryan has filed a lawsuit for gender discrimination and retaliation, claiming unfair dismissal from the station, New York Post reported.
Dr. Maria Ryan, previously employed at WABC, accused the station and its owner, John Catsimatidis, of gender discrimination in a complaint filed in Manhattan Supreme Court. She alleges that her termination, alongside Giuliani, was a consequence of their opposition to a hostile work environment and discriminatory practices.
John Catsimatidis, despite the ongoing legal battle, continues to express his admiration for Rudy Giuliani, referring to him as "one of America’s greatest mayors."
Furthermore, reports suggest that Catsimatidis is negotiating a new contract with Andrew Giuliani, Giuliani’s son, who is also affiliated with WABC.
Dr. Ryan, who joined WABC in 2021, initially worked without pay and later earned $200 per show. She claims this pay was significantly lower than what her male colleagues received. Ryan recounts the process of being asked to verify her educational credentials as both embarrassing and demoralizing.
She addressed her concerns to WABC’s President, Chad Lopez, regarding the unequal and unfair treatment she perceived at the station. Dr. Ryan told The Post, “I went to Chad Lopez and said, ‘I feel like this is a hostile work environment. My opinion isn’t valued.'"
Dr. Ryan sought legal representation after enduring the alleged discrimination. "It was hard for me to even reach out to a lawyer because I was embarrassed because I took it for so long," she revealed. Following her formal complaint regarding gender discrimination, both she and Giuliani were dismissed from their positions, which their attorney, Matthew Blit, claims were acts of retaliation.
"The only thing that changed since the day that they were on the air was that Dr. Ryan made a complaint of gender discrimination, and like on Sept. 11, Mayor Rudy courageously stood up for her, causing both to be unlawfully retaliated against," said Matthew Blit, framing the firings as a response to their stand against workplace injustices.
Catsimatidis denies these allegations, insisting that WABC has not engaged in any unfair treatment. Reports indicate that Giuliani lost his position for failing to follow station policies and missing a critical meeting.
Despite the lawsuit, Catsimatidis continues to hold Giuliani in high regard. He insists that WABC treated Maria Ryan the same as other employees. "It was an unfortunate end to their time at WABC, and certainly not how we hoped Rudy’s time at WABC would end. We continue to think very highly of Rudy," Catsimatidis mentioned in a statement.
Giuliani plans to sue WABC, alleging wrongful termination, according to his legal team. These developments are expected to reveal more about the practices and internal dynamics at WABC Radio.
Summarizing the situation, Dr. Maria Ryan is pursuing damages for gender discrimination, standing up against what she perceived as systemic bias within WABC. Her legal action, supported by Rudy Giuliani’s impending suit, places significant attention on the workplace practices at one of New York's major radio stations.
