'He Said, She Said': Catt Sadler Responds To E!'s Unfair Pay Gap
In December 2017, former E! News and Daily Pop host, Catt Sadler, announced that she was leaving the E! Network.
Sadler's reason for leaving the pop culture shows was due to a massive pay disparity. As previously reported, the former anchor stated that she was told the network hoped to keep her on board for both shows under a new contract. Shortly after, Sadler learned that her former co-host, Jason Kennedy, was being paid twice as much as she was for several years.
In an interview with PEOPLE Magazine, Sadler stated that she was shocked, but she took action and demanded that she be paid the same amount as Kennedy. E!'s decision to not pay Sadler as much as Kennedy caused her to walk away from the network.
E! Comes Forward
After a month of making her decision to part ways with the network, E! has decided to share their thoughts on Sadler's decision.
On Tuesday, during a Television Critics Association panel, E! Chief Frances Berwick stated that the company bases off salary on their employee's experience, not their gender.
"Catt was focused on daytime, Jason Kennedy is on primetime evening news, plus red carpet. Our employees' salaries are based on their roles and expertise, regardless of gender. We wish Catt well, but I hope that sets the record straight on that," Berwick continued.
Berwick's defense reiterates the company's statement made to USA TODAY after Sadler decided to leave the network in December.
Sadler's Response To E!
While E! has denied paying their employees based on gender, Sadler stated that she does not agree with their claims.
"My experience, frustration and disparity was based on Jason Kennedy and myself being apples to apples," she said. "We came to the network at the same time and did similar jobs... The only story I can tell is my truth and the truth speaks for itself."
Celebrities VS. E! Networks
On Sunday, during the 2018 Golden Globe Awards celebrities such as Julianne Moore, Debra Messing, and Eva Longoria stated that they were shocked to hear that E! doesn't believe in paying males and females the same.
After hearing about the multiple women that spoke out against E!'s pay gap, Sadler took to Twitter to thank them.
... AND thank you @jes_chastain @ambertamblyn @_juliannemoore @EllenPompeo and @LauraDern. Your brave voices comfort me and propel this movement forward. #Together #TimesUp #EqualPay
“A new day is on the horizon!”
Thank You— catt sadler (@IAmCattSadler) January 8, 2018
