Lawsuit alleges ABC looked 'the other way' after top GMA producer was accused of sexual assault


The former top producer for Good Morning America has been accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit brought by an ABC News staffer, which also faults the network for allegedly looking "the other way."
Good Morning America producer Kirstyn Crawford filed a lawsuit against Michael Corn, the show's former senior executive producer, alleging he assaulted her on a work trip in 2015, The Wall Street Journal reports. ABC is named as a defendant, as it allegedly "received complaints about Mr. Corn's conduct from several women, going back roughly a decade, but failed to take disciplinary action," the Journal writes. The lawsuit also accuses Corn of sexually assaulting former ABC News producer Jill McClain while they were working at World News Tonight, another ABC show.
The suit reportedly alleges that ABC officials learned of Crawford's allegations in 2017 but didn't launch an investigation into it until after formal complaints were filed in February 2021 by Crawford and McClain, even though Disney's policies call for an investigation to be launched after executives become aware of such an incident.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"ABC looked the other way, elevated Corn through the ranks ... and facilitated the hostile workplace that Corn cultivated through his influence over subordinates' careers, sexual harassment, gaslighting, and anger management issues," the lawsuit alleges, per Deadline.
Heather Riley, who was then a GMA publicist, allegedly told Crawford that reporting the assault might get "messy." An ABC spokesperson told the Journal that "we are committed to upholding a safe and supportive work environment and have a process in place that thoroughly reviews and addresses complaints" and that it "disputes the claims made against it and will address this matter in court." Corn also denied the allegations against him and said he will "vigorously" defend himself.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
5 darkly funny cartoons about Israel blocking aid to Gaza
Cartoons Artists take on forcing famine, avoiding aid, and more
-
The easy elegance of Cap Ferret
The Week Recommends 'Elemental and otherworldly' destination is loved for its natural beauty
-
Volodymyr Zelenskyy: flirting with authoritarianism?
Talking Point Ukraine's president is facing first major domestic unrest since the Russian invasion, over plans to water down the country's anti-corruption agencies
-
Samsung to make Tesla chips in $16.5B deal
Speed Read Tesla has signed a deal to get its next-generation chips from Samsung
-
FCC greenlights $8B Paramount-Skydance merger
Speed Read The Federal Communications Commission will allow Paramount to merge with the Hollywood studio Skydance
-
Tesla reports plummeting profits
Speed Read The company may soon face more problems with the expiration of federal electric vehicle tax credits
-
Dollar faces historic slump as stocks hit new high
Speed Read While stocks have recovered post-Trump tariffs, the dollar has weakened more than 10% this year
-
Economists fear US inflation data less reliable
speed read The Labor Department is collecting less data for its consumer price index due to staffing shortages
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement