A meteorologist from Minnesota alleges she was compelled to wear form-fitting dresses and criticized for changing her hair color from blonde to brown by her ‘sexist’ employers, according to a new lawsuit.
Wren Clair, whose legal name is Renee Fox, alleges that she faced sexual discrimination and harassment while working at local broadcaster KSTP-TV.
The weather forecaster departed the station in February after seven years and moved to rival network KARE 11 the following month, stating that she made the decision after being demoted for reporting the purported inappropriate behavior.
KSTP-TV categorically denied her allegations in its legal response to her complaint.
Clair asserts she was targeted by her colleagues and supervisors, filing a lawsuit this week in the Ramsey County District Court in Minneapolis, claiming that the alleged mistreatment was instigated by KSTP News Director Kirk Varner.
She alleges that Varner ‘enabled’ KSTP Chief Meteorologist Dave Dahl in his harassment, which involved them participating in various sexually inappropriate actions.
The lawsuit details occurrences where Dahl allegedly made repeated remarks about Clair’s physique, often discussed his sex life in explicit terms, commented on the breasts of an underage waitress, and participated in ‘sexual acts in public’ during the company holiday party.
Additional inappropriate claims include Dahl expressing how aroused he was by his then-girlfriend’s ‘inexperience with sex’, and ‘proudly’ displaying images of his girlfriend’s breasts to colleagues, according to the lawsuit.
Minnesota meteorologist Wren Clair says she was forced to wear tight dresses and scolded for dying her blonde hair brown by her ‘sexist’ bosses in a blistering new lawsuit
Clair said in her filing that the alleged harassment was ‘driven’ by KSTP News Director Kirk Varner (pictured), who she claims subjected her to ‘years of sex-based double standards and stereotypes’
Clair alleges that Varner ‘enabled’ longtime KSTP Chief Meteorologist Dave Dahl (pictured) as he harassed her, which included complimenting the breasts of an underage waitress and engaging in ‘sex acts in public’ at the company Christmas party, per her lawsuit
Clair alleges that when Dahl, described as an ‘untouchable’ newsman in the area, retired in 2020, Varner picked up the mantle and subjected her to ‘years of sex-based double standards and stereotypes’.
Clair’s former employer KSTP-TV denied her allegation that she was fired after reporting the misconduct, and said she was terminated for poor performance.
But in her shock filing, Clair said that she had never been hit with any formal disciplinary action, and was replaced by a ‘less qualified man’ after she was fired.
She alleges that KSTP-TV has a, ‘deeply ingrained culture of inappropriate sexual conduct and sexism’ that ‘traces its roots’ back to Dahl, who is not named as a defendant in the suit.
Clair said that Dahl had a devoted fan base in the area and was viewed as ‘untouchable’ by network executives, who ‘worked hard to create and maintain a public image of Dahl as a wholesome member of the Twin Cities community which starkly contrasted reality’.
Clair alleged that her harassment was compounded by her male colleagues, who allegedly left her with inaccurate forecast information on the air and refused to coordinate with her before her broadcasts that left her scrambling in front of viewers
Clair alleges that KSTP-TV has a ‘deeply ingrained culture of inappropriate sexual conduct and sexism’ that included the network’s chief meteorologist ‘frequently talking about his sex life in graphic detail’
Her complaint states that when Dahl retired, Varner was in charge of picking his replacement, but ‘vocally doubted that the public can accept a lead female in a scientist role’.
The forecaster said she was given less favorable hours on the air and given worse assignments than her male peers, who she said also joined in the alleged workplace harassment.
This included male meteorologists leaving her with inaccurate forecast information and refusing to coordinate with her before her broadcasts that left her scrambling in front of viewers, according to the lawsuit.
Clair said in her complaint she was demoted in October 2024 after she started reporting the misconduct and fired the following February.
She said the network refused to explain what was ‘unsatisfactory’ about her performance.
The weather forecaster left the station in February after seven years and joined rival outlet KARE 11 the next month, claiming that she reached breaking point after being demoted for reporting the alleged misconduct
In a response to the lawsuit filed in court on Wednesday, KSTP-TV said that it ‘denies each and every allegation’ put forward by Clair.
The network said that Clair was ‘repeatedly coached’ on her performance before she was fired, and said she was told to use ‘less scientific and highly technical jargon’ in her weather reports.
It also admitted that Varner commented on Clair having a ‘swimmer’s body’, and ’emphasized the importance of clothing fit’, as it countered that she would wear ‘joggers’ on the air.
The network also did not refute that Clair was scolded for dying her hair from blonde to brown, but said that she was referred to ‘the appearance clause in her Employment Agreement’.
KSTP-TV told Daily Mail in response to the lawsuit that it ‘does not comment on personnel matters or active litigation.’
Daily Mail has contacted Varner and Dahl for comment.
