Catt Sadler (43)
is out at E! Entertainment (DStv 124) where she was the co-anchor of its
daily
E! News and is slamming E!, saying her decision
to leave was because she discovered that co-anchor
Jason Kennedy (36)
was making almost double her pay and E! was unwilling to pay her more.
Catt Sadler has been with E! Entertainment for 12 years and appeared on E!
News for the past 7, stepping in as co-anchor after first Giuliana
Rancic left and then Maria Menounos left because of
cancer.
Besides co-anchoring E! News, Catt
Sadler, a divorced single mom since last year, also became a panelist
on The Daily Pop since May.
Her last appearance was supposed to be on
Wednesday but Tuesday turned out to be her abrupt E! on-air farewell.
In the last moment of E! News on
Tuesday Catt Sadler said goodbye and told Jason
Kennedy: "It has been an honor sharing this room with you my
friend".
E! said "We will miss having Catt on set
and appreciate her many contributions".
Now in a statement on her official website, The
CattWalk, Catt Sadler is slamming E! and revealing why she
quit, blaming E! for discriminating against women and pay discrepancies between
what the entertainment network from NBCUniversal pays women and men doing the
same jobs.
Catt Sadler says it's important for her to explain why she was forced to leave
E!, and that she wanted to stay on with E! but the NBCUniversal channel didn't
want to pay her more.
Catt Sadler says Jason Kennedy has been making almost double
what she earns, for the past several years.
E! in a statement about the pay disparity says
"E! compensates employees fairly and appropriately based on their roles,
regardless of gender. We appreciate Catt Sadler’s many contributions at E! News
and wish her all the best following her decision to leave the network".
Catt Sadler says "an executive from E! brought something alarming to my
attention - namely that there was a massive disparity in pay between my
similarly situated male co-host and myself".
"More recently, when E! reached out to
renew and extend my deal, I learned that he wasn't just making a little more
than I was."
I have two decades experience in broadcasting
and started at the network the very same year as my close friend and colleague
that I adore. But how can I operate with integrity and stay on at E! if they're
not willing to pay me the same as him? Or at least come close?"
"How can I accept an offer that shows they
do not value my contributions and paralleled dedication all these years?
How can I not echo the actions of my heroes and stand for what is right
no matter what the cost?"
"How can I remain silent when my rights
under the law have been violated?"
Catt Sadler says she asked E! "for what I know I deserve and were denied
repeatedly".
Here is Catt Sadler's full statement:
"I know first hand that dreams do come
true. For the past twelve years, I’ve been living mine out loud as one of the
hosts on E! television."
"For more than a decade I’ve walked through
the doors at E! and traveled into people’s living rooms around the world.
"I’ve reported from a royal wedding, the
Olympics, and the Oscars. I’ve been to film festivals in France, movie
premieres in Rio, and fashion week in Paris. I’ve gotten chased by the
paparazzi on camera while shopping with Kris Jenner, co-hosted shows with
Khloe, Kim and Kourtney, and interviewed Kendall and Kylie back in those early
Keeping Up days when no one could remember their names.
"It has been unpredictable, intoxicating,
rewarding and hard work. Five days a week since February 2006. First, for The
Daily 10 and later for E! News.
"Then, this year happened. Daily Pop was
born. I was named host which meant double duty. Hosting a live, two-hour
daytime show while also hosting E! News most nights.
" It was creatively challenging but genuinely
one of the most fulfilling years of my professional career. Coincidentally,
around this same time an executive from E! brought something alarming to my
attention - namely, that there was a massive disparity in pay between my
similarly situated male co-host and myself.
"More recently, when E! reached out to
renew and extend my deal, I learned that he wasn’t just making a little more
than I was. In fact, he was making close to double my salary for the past
several years.
"Information is power. Or it should be. We
are living in a new era. The gender pay gap is shrinking, although admittedly
we have a long way to go. And well, I learned this first hand. My team and I
asked for what I know I deserve and were denied repeatedly.
"Know your worth. I have two decades
experience in broadcasting and started at the network the very same year as my
close friend and colleague that I adore. I so lovingly refer to him as my “TV
husband” and I mean it.
"But how can I operate with integrity and
stay on at E! if they’re not willing to pay me the same as him? Or at least
come close? How can I accept an offer that shows they do not value my
contributions and paralleled dedication all these years?
"How can I not echo the actions of my
heroes and stand for what is right no matter what the cost? How can I remain
silent when my rights under the law have been violated?
"It’s scary. I am a single mother of two
boys. The unknown can be terrifying, but it can also be the most beautiful
gift. Countless brave women have come forward this year to speak their truth.
Females refuse to remain silent on issues that matter most because without our
voices, how will we invoke lasting change? How can we make it better for the
next generation of girls if we do not stand for what is fair and just today?
"It was my desire to stay at my job. To
continue entertaining our loyal viewers around the world. To keep working
alongside some of the best writers, directors, and producers in the game.
"Everyone from the studio crew, hair and
makeup artists, to the security at the front door are true friends of mine.
They have been my work family and I love them dearly. Unfortunately, however,
my decision was made for me and I must go.
"I will find more work. I will create
content with meaning. I will continue to pursue my passions while making my
children proud. The way I see it, I have an obligation to be an agent for
change.
It was important for me to explain my departure.
"I did not want to disappear from your
television screens and have you wonder why. Thank you for your precious time
all these years. Thank you for the support. Thank you for the constant exchange
of ideas on social media as well. This chapter is over and a new one begins.
"Big big love, Catt"
