After 18 long years, Ben Mulroney announced today that he will be stepping down as an anchor on CTV’s nightly entertainment news show etalk.
He made the announcement on the Monday morning broadcast of Your Morning, saying that it was part of an effort to combat systemic racism on television.
“Last Saturday, I watched on CTV as my colleagues led a national conversation about how we can take action against systemic racism,” Ben Mulroney said. “That conversation showed me more than ever that we need more black voices, more indigenous voices, more people of colour in the media as well as every other profession. And that is why I’ve decided to immediately step away from my role as anchor of etalk, to create space for a new perspective and a new voice.”
The announcement follows the backlash his wife Jessica Mulroney received on social media after she was called out for trying to sabotage Sasha Exeter’s career by suing her for libel.
Jessica Mulroney has since apologized to Exeter and announced that she is stepping away from her work to reflect, learn, and focus on her family.
Mulroney had been the host of etalk since its creation in 2002 said that he hopes the next anchor will be "Black, Indigenous, or a person of colour, and they can use this important platform to inspire, to lead and to make change."
Nanci MacLean, vice-president of Bell Media Studios, said in a statement that the naming of a new host for etalk is a "few weeks" away.
“We’re proud of Ben for his decision,” said MacLean. “Ben has played an integral role in the success of etalk, acting as a tireless champion of Canadian artists and productions. We thank him for his contribution to building etalk into Canada’s #1 entertainment show, and look forward to developing new projects with him at Bell Media Studios.”
Ben Mulroney will continue to co-host CTV Your Morning with Anne-Marie Mediwake.