For the past several days, TVSpy has been chronicling the growing number of local newsers formerly employed at Gray Television stations who were fired for violating the company’s mandate that all employees must be vaccinated for Covid-19 by Oct. 1.
And you can add two more people to that list: WLOX anchor Meggan Gray (pictured, left) and KGWN producer/anchor Kerri Hayden (right), both of whom went public this week about losing their respective jobs.
Gray, who had worked for the Biloxi, Miss. station since graduating college 18 years ago, has anchored Good Morning Mississippi since 2007. She said in a Facebook post that “Before GrayTV mandated this vaccination policy, I made an informed and prayerful decision not to get the vaccine, mostly because I had already survived a case of COVID-19. (There are other, more powerful reasons that led to my personal decision.)”
According to Gray, “I tried everything possible to keep my job, including offering to be tested on a weekly basis. My requests were denied.”
The anchor, who left Sept. 30, said, “It hurts saying goodbye; it hurts parting on these terms. However, I know in my heart it is the right decision for me and my family.” She added, “I may have lost my job, but I preserved my integrity.”
Meanwhile, Cheyenne, Wyo. anchor Hayden, who had been with the station for 25 years, is also out for the same reason.
“While I am not for or against the vaccine, I do firmly believe we as Americans have the right to choose what’s best for ourselves,” Hayden said in a Oct. 2 Facebook post. “With that said, I’ve made the decision to not allow Gray TV to control my personal choices. I did not comply with their vaccine mandate after my exemption request was denied, therefore I was terminated.”
While the former Wyoming News Now anchor isn’t sure what is next for her, “I trust God has plans for me and in that, I am comforted!”
Other Gray employees that have gone public in recent weeks about their vaccination-related terminations include KSNB meteorologist Tim Jones in Hastings, Neb., KY3 reporter Linda Simmons in Springfield, Mo., WLUC meteorologist Karl Bohnak in Marquette, Mich. and WTVM sports anchor Dave Platta in Columbus, Ga.