Jason Kennedy’s Wife Slams Catt Sadler After E! News Sexism Scandal
Dec. 22 2017, Updated 12:05 p.m. ET
Days after Catt Sadler quit E! News due to an alleged sexist pay-gap between her and co-anchor Jason Kennedy, the TV hunk’s wife is firing back!
“I have always said that there are negatives and positives to social media, and these last 48 hours have proven that to be true. I believe in female empowerment and gender equality, but it’s heartbreaking that a network is being deemed sexist when that is simply not true,” wrote Lauren Scruggs on Instagram this Thursday.
“At one time my husband had a female co-anchor on E! News who made 3 times his salary. Women are paid accordingly on this network, and the difference in his salary versus hers did not affect Jason. He knows there are always more components to consider when determining one’s salary than gender alone,” she continued.
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Scruggs’ fiery comments come after Sadler, 43, claimed Kennedy, 36, was making “double” her salary even though they held the same position at the company. She said that working for E! was her “dream job” but she felt diminished and “insulted” after network executives refused to pay her the salary she deserved.
E! shared a statement following Sadler’s resignation, claiming that they were sad to see her go, but that the difference in salary between her and Kennedy had nothing to do with gender, but with qualifications.
Scruggs quoted the network in her explosive Instagram post, adding: “As you know, there are two sides to every story. I am posting this to tell the other side, which everyone deserves to know before jumping to conclusions about a place he has called home for the last twelve years.”
She continued, defending her husband amidst the backlash.
“If he ever heard that gender inequality was occurring at his workplace, he would take action. Instead, it’s the contrary, and the numerous phone calls we have had these past two days from both current and former female employees at E! only support what he has seen in his time there. These women have assured us that they never felt gender inequality was at play at any time,” she wrote.
As RadarOnline.com readers know, Sadler was careful not to bash Kennedy in her brutal E! News takedown, assuring readers that he had nothing to do with her unfair treatment and was, in fact, one of her closest friends. It seems, however, that Scruggs, 29, did not buy her apology.
“Jason is the most tender-hearted & respectful person and it’s so sad to see him unfairly publicly shamed,” wrote Lauren Scruggs. “His name has been dragged through the mud regarding nothing he did, except be a great friend & colleague. It absolutely breaks my heart to watch, & it is devastating & frustrating to see how this all played out. I will always stand on truth, & I cannot stand by and be silent when the foundation of a story that affects my family is not based on that. I am so proud of & inspired by my husband for constantly being prayerful, surrounding himself w/ wisdom, & being the definition of a class act even in unfortunate circumstances. Love u, Jase, I am honored to be by your side.”
What do you think of Lauren Scruggs’ vicious message? Do you think she was bashing Catt Sadler or simply defending husband Jason Kennedy? Sound off in the comments below.
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