Fox News scandal
Former Fox News Channel anchor Gretchen Carlson has settled her sexual harassment lawsuit against Roger Ailes, the case that led to the downfall of Fox’s chief executive with stunning swiftness this summer. It was reported on September 6, 2016 that Carlson will receive a $20 million settlement from Fox News’ parent company, 21st Century Fox.
The lawsuit, filed by Carlson on July 6, 2016, charged that Ailes sabotaged her career because she refused his sexual advances. Within two weeks of the court filing, Carlson’s lawyers also said more than 20 women had contacted the firm with stories of alleged harassment by Ailes either against themselves or someone they knew. Two came forward publicly.
Ailes denied Carlson’s allegations as well as those from other past and present female co-workers who spoke up after her. But Fox quickly took action as the allegations went public, ending Ailes’ reign on Thursday, July 21, 2016.
Roger Ailes
Carlson alleged that she was demoted and let go from Fox News after she refused Ailes’ sexual advances and complained about workplace harassment. Though Ailes denied the charges, 21st Century Fox launched an investigation. The resignation of the 76-year-old Ailes, who built Fox News from scratch and ran it with an iron hand for nearly 20 years, soon followed.
Details were not given on the settlement agreement for Ailes’ contract, which was supposed to run through 2018, but a payment of at least $40 million was reported.
After Carlson went public, New York Magazine reported that it spoke with six women who said Ailes harassed them. Two, Marsha Callahan and Kellie Boyle, went on the record. Boyle, a former Republican communications aide, said Ailes told her in 1989 that he’d help her career, but she would need to go to bed with him. She said Ailes told her, “You know if you want to play with the big boys, you have to lay with the big boys.”
Megyn Kelly
Several Fox employees jumped to Ailes’ defense when the charges first came to light, but notably not Megyn Kelly, one of Fox’s top news personalities. In rapid succession, it was reported that Kelly was among other women who had told investigators about harassment — again denied by Ailes — and that corporate head Rupert Murdoch and his sons, James and Lachlan, determined that Ailes had to go.
On November 3, 2016, RadarOnline reported on leaked passages from Kelly’s upcoming memoir, “Settle for More,” that describe inappropriate comments, including those about ‘very sexy bras’, and being grabbed by Ailes. The passages quoted include Kelly stating that she was offered advancement ‘in exchange for sexual favors.” She said she reported the incidents to a supervisor at the time.
Lachlan Murdoch
Gretchen Carlson alleged that she was removed as co-host from the highly rated “Fox and Friends” morning show in 2013 and had her pay reduced. She said she was fired from the network in June 2016, after 11 years of employment, in retaliation for turning down Ailes’ advances.
Fox Co-Executive Chairman Lachlan Murdoch said, “We have moved quickly and decisively to protect the business, to protect its employees, and to protect the unique and important voice Fox broadcasts.”
Photo: Rupert Murdoch (C) leaves the News Corporation building with his son Lachlan Murdoch (R) on July 21, 2016 in New York City.
Rupert Murdoch
Upon the resignation of Ailes, it was announced that Rupert Murdoch, the executive chairman of 21st Century Fox, would run Fox News and its sister Fox Business Network, which Ailes had also led, until a successor could be found. Ailes was still expected to serve as an informal advisor to Murdoch.
“I am personally committed to ensuring that Fox News remains a distinctive, powerful voice,” Murdoch said. “Our nation needs a robust Fox News to resonate from every corner of the country.”
Gretchen Carlson
The 50-year-old Carlson, who was Miss America in 1989, alleged in her lawsuit that Ailes, who is 76, ogled her, repeatedly commented about her legs, urged her to wear clothes that enhanced her figure and told her she was sexy but “too much hard work.”
“I think you and I should have had a sexual relationship a long time ago and then you’d be good and better and I’d be good and better,” Ailes said, according to the lawsuit.
Carlson also said that one of her “Fox & Friends” co-hosts, Steve Doocy (L), “had created a hostile work environment by regularly treating her in a sexist and condescending way.” She said that when Ailes heard of her complaints, he called her a “man hater” who needed to learn to “get along with the boys.”
Greta Van Susteren
Fox News Channel’s Greta Van Susteren, who announced her own departure from the network Sept. 6, 2016, told People magazine that when she first heard about Carlson’s lawsuit, it didn’t “have any ring of truth.”
“Of course, the first thing that occurred to me is that, unfortunately, we have a disgruntled employee, a colleague” over the fact her contract wasn’t renewed. In 15 years, Van Susteren said she had never seen any instances of sexual harassment.
“Even if he weren’t doing it to me, I wouldn’t want to work in that environment. I sort of feel bad for Gretchen Carlson because it’s sort of a weird thing that she’s done. What she’s alleging is something that is alien to me. I’ve never heard it.”
Van Susteren’s decision aburptly quit the network after 14 years a prime-time on September 6, 2016, the same days as Carlson’s settlement was announced. In a September 9 Facebook post, Van Sustern said she regretted not believing Carlson.
Geraldo Rivera
Van Sustern’s apology came on the heels of Geraldo Rivera’s statement apologizing. In his Facebook post on September 8, 2016, Rivera described Roger Ailes as a “deceitful, selfish misogynist, if the charges against him are true.” He expressed regret for initially responding to Carlson’s lawsuit with skepticism. On the heels of Carlson’s lawuit he initially tweeted, Don’t believe the crap about #Roger Ailies. Only ones talking dirt are those who hate #FoxNews & want to hurt network that’s kicking their ass.”
Gretchen Carlson's male co-hosts
Hosts Steve Doocy, Gretchen Carlson and Brian Kilmeade on “Fox & Friends” at the Fox News studios on September 21, 2010 in New York City. Carlson’s lawsuit alleged that Doocy “had created a hostile work environment by regularly treating her in a sexist and condescending way.”
Bloomberg Politics put together video clips showing Carlson’s male colleagues’ comments about her appearance, with repeated references to “gorgeous” and what she is wearing. In one of the clips, her male cohost Kilmeade asks her, “Do you like a woman masseuse or a male masseuse, just so I know?” Carlson commented, “Now you know what I go through!” In another scene, Carlson said to Kilmeade, “HR is on the phone because you called me a skirt.”
Maria Bartiromo
Business news journalist Maria Bartiromo is one of several Fox employees who came out in support of Ailes after Carlson filed her lawsuit.
“Nobody wants to see anybody have any bad experiences,” Bartiromo, who has known Ailes for 25 years, said in an interview with Variety. “It’s just not in keeping with what I know, and my experience at Fox.”
Jeanine Pirro
Former Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who covers legal news on Fox in “Justice with Judge Jeanine,” called Carlson’s allegations against Ailes “absurd” and “ridiculous,” according to the Wrap.
Sandra Smith
Sandra Smith (top), who appears on Fox’s “Outnumbered” and moderated one of the “undercard” Republican presidential debates, told the Hollywood Reporter she had “never been instructed on the length of my skirt or the color of my lipstick.”
Smith, who has worked at Fox News for 12 years, said she was “very surprised and a little bit confused” by Carson’s allegations against Ailes.
Sean Hannity
Fox News host Sean Hannity has been vocal in his support of Ailes since news of the lawsuit first broke. His Tweets include one that states he talked to hundreds of women at Fox and “They say it all BS.”
Gretchen Carlson and Roger Ailes
FILE - In this May 18, 2010, file photo, TV personality Gretchen Carlson appears on the set of “Fox & Friends” in New York. Former Fox News Channel anchor Carlson has settled her sexual harassment lawsuit against Roger Ailes, the case that led to the downfall of Fox’s chief executive, according to a statement released Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, by Fox parent company 21st Century. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
Handout image provided by FOX News Channel, FOX News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes attends the Ailes Apprentice Program graduation at FOX News Channel headquarters on November 14, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by FOX News Channel via Getty Images)