Stensland Stands by Her Man

Former Fox 29 anchor says despite scandal and heartbreak she is more empowered than ever

Former Fox 29 anchor Dawn Stensland gave a tell-all interview to the Daily News this week, revealing her knowledge of an affair between her husband Larry Mendte and Alycia Lane, both former anchors of CBS3, and saying that she is more in love with her husband of nine years than ever.

"I love him more today than I ever have,” she told the Daily News. “Has he made mistakes? Sure, yes he did. Do I think they rose to the level of a federal crime? No, I don't. I think that is ridiculous."

Suffering a miscarriage; confronting her husband on “salacious” emails between him and Lane suggesting his infidelity; watching her husband’s scandal of breaking into Lane’s e-mails unfold with an FBI probe; his conviction and house arrest; and then suddenly losing her job at Fox 29 last month, all happened over a year-and-a-half period. And yet Stensland feels more empowered than ever before.

"We all have our cross to bear. No matter what a person is going through," she told the Daily News. "For women, put on your best game face, put on your best girdle and you just gotta go."

Stensland credits the people of Philadelphia for giving her the strength to carry on through messages on facebook and twitter.

She posted the link to the extensive three-page article about her recent “empowerment” on her facebook page Monday morning, and people immediately began to leave comments of encouragement.

“Dawn, you remind us all that no matter which side of the television screen we are on, we are all human and that real life happens,” one man wrote. “Your strength and courage are a model for us all. Keep the faith and stay strong.”

“Good luck Dawn, your new life will be even better, the cream always rises to the top,” another person wrote.

Stensland said that despite finding a receipt for a Tiffany necklace Mendte bought for Lane, and the e-mails that suggested her husband’s infidelity, she is devoted to him and their marriage. She’s surprised that so many people question her choice to stay by Mendte’s side.

"That's a sad part of our society, this idea that marriage is not until death do us part but rather something that's disposable," said Stensland. "That's not the way it should be. . . . You know, I'm sticking by my man and I know that Larry is a good man."



 

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