New York- A FORMER news anchor for CNBC has become unhinged after four years of being off the air.
Bonnie Behrend, who worked for CNBC from 1998 to 2001, has sent rambling, demented e-mails to NBC head Bob Wright, accusing him of ruining her life by condoning rampant sexual harassment.
“You helped kill my father . . . Your goons frightened my mother,” she wrote to Wright.
The e-mails were cc’ed to industry power players, including Fox New Channel head Roger Ailes, Court TV head Henry Schlieff, power agent Richard Leibner and Mayor Bloomberg.
The first e-mail, titled “How Dare You – Part One,” raged: “Pay up, Bob, for the damage you caused my life . . . You shattered my life, career and family . . . I just caught you conspiring with other network executives and talent agencies to keep me out of work.”
Behrend charged that two other anchors sexually harassed her and that when she told on them, the network did nothing.
“I have given you years to correct the behaviors, respond appropriately and correct this situation,” Behrend wrote.
In another e-mail titled, “Fix This,” Behrend blared in huge bold capital letters: “Bob, undo the damage you have done to my life and career now. Unpoison my friendships now. Resurrect my opportunities now. Call ABC and Fox and Richard Leibner and Henry Schlieff and Roger Ailes and tell them how much you appreciate me and my work. Tell them you think it is a very good idea if I get back on the air somewhere now!!”
On her Web site, Behrend writes: “Occasionally, reality and the memories of what happened at CNBC come screaming back, at which time I send out a rash of e-mails to those who might want to know the answer to the $77,000 (that’s what NBC offered to keep me quiet) question or spam my friends and contacts for jobs or shout out to those who might be able to help right the wrongs of a big, bad giant with a Civil Rights wart on its nose. Most days, I’m the happiest broke and homeless person I know.”
One person familiar with the situation said: “[Behrend] has had a hard time getting another job since she left CNBC and every time she gets a ‘no,’ she gets increasingly bitter towards her former employer.”
A rep for Wright and CNBC said: “Ms. Behrend left our employment almost four years ago. She subsequently filed a meritless lawsuit. Her claims were dismissed by the court and cannot be re-filed.”