WABC sports reporter leaves after accusing boss of discrimination

WABC viewers won’t see Laura Behnke anchoring weekend sports coverage anymore.

Behnke’s contract expired Tuesday, following failed renegotiations for a three-year extension in the same role, Page Six has learned, but her battle with WABC isn’t over.

As Page Six exclusively reported last month, Behnke filed a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights against WABC/Channel 7 boss Camille Edwards alleging gender and race discrimination. Now,  Behnke and her attorney plan to file an additional retaliation complaint, they told us this week.

Behnke told Page Six on Wednesday that while she was going through contract renegotiations, she repeatedly emailed human resources to find out whether she’d still have to work under Edwards, who is on leave until Jan. 2.

“I wanted answers to try and figure out if there were going to be any changes,” Behnke told us, “and if all the complaints of harassment and retaliation that I had claimed, if any of those were being investigated and if they had come to any conclusion about whom I would continue to be working under and what sort of work environment I would continue to be working under if I were to sign this three-year extension that they were offering.”

According to Behnke and her attorney, Dave Rosenberg, she received responses, but “WABC purposefully refused to respond to specific questions about whether or not Camille Edwards would remain as her supervisor.”

Behnke and Rosenberg claim her questions were ignored “in retaliation of her gender, race and color discrimination complaint.”

When asked if she would have re-upped her contract had she not had to work under Edwards, Behnke replied, “Possibly. There are so many questions that were not answered.”

Rosenberg added, “It wasn’t just limited to Camille. She was retaliated against by other employees at WABC … the number-one issue, of course, would’ve been to solve the issue with Camille Edwards, whether or not she was going to be there.”

“Once we couldn’t get past [the Edwards issue], it was basically a nonstarter,” Behnke said.

Behnke also considered whether she even wanted to stay with WABC in the same role as weekend anchor — without a promotion.

“A large concern to me and the reason for seeking out legal help and for filing this complaint in the first place is that I do believe I was passed over for a position that I was qualified for, that I deserved, that I had worked hard for,” she said, “and when I was not given that, it was very difficult.”

Behnke wanted a “hostile-free work environment,” as well as the main sports anchor position, which she claimed in her original complaint she was passed over for because she’s a white woman.

Behnke is taking the time around the holidays to “step back” and analyze what she wants to do next.

A WABC spokesperson told Page Six that Behnke’s allegations were found to be “unsubstantiated” after an investigation.

“All of Ms. Behnke’s complaints and concerns were immediately and fully investigated and every allegation was found to be unsubstantiated,” the spokesperson told us. “After her most recent claim, she was invited to meet with the human resources team, which she declined. Additionally, prior to the expiration of her employment contract, Ms. Behnke declined a new, multi-year offer with salary increases.”