Apple TV+’s The Morning Show helped uncover real sexual assault allegations at Good Morning America. When it was first announced all the way back in 2017, it was believed that The Morning Show would be a prestige drama that pulled off the lid on the gossip and machinations of daytime news. Apple, a long way off from unveiling its streaming service, had given the show a two-season order and had drawn inspiration from Brian Stelter’s book – subtitled “Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV.”

By the time The Morning Show debuted in November 2019, the series has shifted as a result of the MeToo movement. As explained by star Jennifer Aniston and others, the Apple TV+ drama had to be retooled to incorporate the fact that sexual assault had rocked news divisions. Matt Lauer, the longtime anchor of NBC’s TODAY Show, and Charlie Rose of CBS News were both fired after damning allegations of sexual misconduct and their respective networks had now become the story instead of delivering the news. The Morning Show still had plenty of angst and jealously between Aniston and co-lead Reese Witherspoon. But the focus arguably shifted to Steve Carrell’s Mitch Kessler, who echoed Lauer as a seemingly affable anchor that’s exposed for a pattern of predatory behavior.

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The Wall Street Journal now reports that The Morning Show helped to uncover a real-life instance of sexual assault at Good Morning America. Jay Carson, the creator of the Apple TV+ series, was doing research on daytime news programs like GMA and he spoke to ABC News producer Kirstyn Crawford. She told Carson that she was sexually assaulted by GMA’s lead producer Michael Corn in 2015. Carson then shared this information with GMA anchor George Stephanopoulos, who alerted key executives.

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Crawford filed a lawsuit in August 2021, alleging that ABC and its parent company Disney failed to investigate the allegations against Corn after being alerted by Stephanopoulos. The claims have been corroborated by “people familiar with the matter.” The lawsuit also explains that Crawford did not personally go to HR with her allegations due to that she feared it would  “do more harm than good or even result in losing her job.” She also notes that ABC retaliated against her, opting not to renew her contract when she eventually did come forward with allegations earlier this year. Corn, who denies the allegations, was fired back in April after an HR investigation and ABC denies the allegations made in the lawsuit. “We will defend against the remaining claims that ABC failed to take appropriate action against Mr. Corn,” a spokesperson told Wall Street Journal.

The Morning Show has veered off its original conception, likely bolstered by the fact that Carson left the series over creative differences. But the series did go to paints to dramatize the way that institutions and powerful people successfully protect themselves from accusations and wrongdoing until that is no longer feasible, offering up sacrificial lambs in place of lasting institutional changes. Looking at the careers of Lauer, Rose, and others who manage to keep their high-paying gigs, even as the allegations were something of an open secret, it makes clear that the ramifications of MeToo were long overdue.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

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Abdullah Al-Ghamdi
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Abdullah Al-Ghamdi joined Screen Rant in August 2019, focusing on movie and television news. In January of the same year, he wrote a 3500+ word piece on why Primo Colón is underrated. He considers it his finest work. When he’s not arguing for the merits of his favorite wrestler, he can be reached at: [email protected].

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