Former Fox 2 Detroit anchor Taryn Asher can pursue another job in television after resolving a dispute with her former station over a six-month noncompete clause. The agreement removes a restriction that Fox 2 argued would keep her from working in the industry until early December. Asher’s agent called the outcome a victory for the longtime Detroit journalist. Her broader lawsuit against the station still remains active.
The conflict arose after Asher was taken off the air in November 2025 but continued receiving pay for a period afterwards. Her employment agreement expired on June 6th, 2026, and the two sides disagreed about when the six-month restriction began. That difference mattered to Asher as she looked for another job in the market where she had spent much of her career. It also became an issue in the federal lawsuit she filed against Fox 2.
Asher’s attorneys argued that she had, for practical purposes, been terminated on November 21st, 2025. Under their reading of the contract, the restriction would have expired in May 2026. Fox 2 took the position that the clock started when her employment agreement expired in June, extending the restriction into December. Asher never returned to the air between those dates.
Attorneys for both sides have now agreed to resolve the noncompete issue. As Deadline Detroit reported, they filed a stipulated order in federal court on Monday seeking to dismiss that portion of the case. The filing said the dismissal was “based upon the parties’ resolution of this issue.” A judge still had to sign the order when Deadline Detroit published its report on September 15th.
Asher’s agent, Mort Meisner, welcomed the agreement and said it allows her to pursue paid work again. He pointed to her nearly 30 years in journalism and her ratings success at WJBK Fox 2. Meisner said there had been discussions about opportunities in both mainstream and other media, but the contract dispute had kept them waiting. He described the result as a victory for an anchor with a family to support.
The fight over the contract was one part of a larger case. Asher filed a federal lawsuit in June alleging sex discrimination and retaliation after she complained about her treatment at the station. According to Deadline Detroit’s account of the complaint, she alleged that co-anchor Roop Raj received more guest interview opportunities and more accommodating scheduling. Those allegations haven’t been resolved by the agreement over her noncompete clause.
Fox 2 has disputed Asher’s account of her departure. In an August court filing covered by Deadline Detroit, the station attributed its employment decisions to what it described as “unprofessional workplace behavior and outbursts.” Asher has denied that her conduct justified termination and maintains that the station treated her differently because of her sex. The competing claims remain before the court.
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The restriction had affected discussions about Asher’s next job. In July, Meisner said Detroit television and radio outlets had expressed interest, although there were no offers at that time. The newly resolved contract issue gives Asher the ability to pursue those conversations without waiting until the end of the year. It doesn’t, however, decide whether Fox 2 discriminated or retaliated against her.
Asher’s attorney Tad Roumayah declined to comment on the filing. Fox 2 didn’t respond to Deadline Detroit’s request for comment. Meisner said the agreement removes an obstacle as Asher looks for her next position. Despite the months-long fight with her former employer, he said she hopes to remain in the city where viewers know her: “Taryn does not want to leave Detroit.”