Sarah Blakely

MARQUETTE — Another TV6 News personality has left the television station, in part due to a mandate that all WLUC-TV6 employees must be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Sarah Blakely, who formerly co-anchored the “TV6 Early News” and “TV6 News Tonight” announced on Facebook Wednesday she was no longer employed by TV6. She cited the station’s corporate owner, Gray Television, imposing a vaccination mandate as one of the primary reasons for her departure.

“So when the policy was announced (exacerbating my anxiety), I had the option to file an exemption, but I chose not to in favor of letting them fire me. I have been so unhappy that I have been wanting to leave for months but was trapped by my contract, so this policy was, in many ways, my escape route. My last day would have been September 30, but I decided to resign early because I simply couldn’t spend one more second there,” Blakely wrote in the lengthy post.

According to Gray Television, all new full- and part-time employees across their 162 stations needed to be “fully vaccinated” against the virus by Sept. 1. The policy was expanded to include all mangers effective Sept. 15. By Oct. 1, all other employees, as well as outside contractors, tenants and guests who enter workspaces, would need to be fully-vaccinated.

“We will make accommodations for employees with medical or religious needs,” the Atlanta-based broadcasting company said in a statement on its website.

The new policy also led to the termination of long-time TV6 Weatherman Karl Bohnak, who announced his own departure from the station for refusing the vaccine on his personal Facebook page on Sept. 15. In her own post, Blakely criticized the station’s management, alleging the station’s manager described Bohnak’s departure as “just a blip.”

“Getting vaccinated against COVID does not hold a monopoly on ways to care for yourself and others, and right now I’m taking the necessary steps to take care of the part of my health that is suffering greatly. No, I’m not doing ok. But I will be someday,” wrote in her post.

Much of Blakely’s post revolved around alleged sexual harassment by another TV6 news personality. Blakely alleged the man had repeatedly harassed her, made disturbing comments about her to other employees, could be heard “undoing his pants” behind her in the makeup room, told others she had a mental illness she was not diagnosed with, and had come into her home uninvited to “profess his love.”

She also alleged the station had mishandled her complaints and a corporate-led human resources investigation. She claimed the individual was later fired for reasons unrelated to her sexual harassment allegations.

“(He) now has an active warrant for his arrest for coming into my home uninvited, so at least someone will finally hold him accountable for his misbehavior,” said Blakely.

The Daily Press does not name the victims of sexual harassment or assault unless they have spoken publicly about the incident outside of a courtroom. It is also not the Daily Press’ policy to name individuals accused of crimes prior to court arraignment.

The individual accused by Blakely has not yet been arraigned on criminal charges, but according to the 96th District Court in Marquette, an arraignment hearing for the man is scheduled for Oct. 7 at 8:15 a.m. via Zoom. He will be charged with Breaking and Entering Without Owner’s Permission.

According to a second post by Blakely made Wednesday, her initial post was removed by Facebook because it went against the site’s “Community Standards on harassment and bullying.” The post had been reinstated by Thursday afternoon.