From CNN Money:
Former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson is suing the network's CEO and chairman Roger Ailes, alleging a pervasive practice of sexual harassment.
Carlson, 50, was removed from her 2 p.m. newscast "The Real Story" in late June. The lawsuit says she was terminated for "refusing Ailes' sexual advances."Representatives for Ailes did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Smith emphasized that Carlson is only suing Ailes, not the network.
Still, the lawsuit is a bombshell that could have serious consequences for Fox. In the tight-knit, ultra-competitive television business, there was immediate speculation about whether other women at Fox would come forward to back up Carlson's claims.
Ailes, now 76, founded Fox News in 1996 and has run the network with an iron fist ever since, with employees famously loyal to him. He signed another multi-year contract last year.
Carlson's lawsuit alleges that Ailes repeatedly "injected sexual and/or sexist comments" into conversations; made "sexual advances by various means;" and said to her last September, "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."
The suit says Carlson requested the September meeting because she was seeking to "bring to an end the retaliatory and discriminatory treatment she had endured."
Instead, the suit alleges, the "retaliation" continued through June, when her contract was not renewed.
The eight-page lawsuit, filed with the Superior Court of New Jersey on Wednesday, alleges that Ailes violated the New York City Human Rights Law.
Asked whether Carlson has any recordings or other evidence, Smith said, "We are very confident in our evidence. We have very powerful evidence. But we don't want to discuss what the evidence is outside of the courtroom."
Smith said that the 2014 book about Fox and Ailes, "The Loudest Voice in the Room," by Gabriel Sherman, contains other accusations of sexual harassment by Ailes.
"The law is very clear that other victims' testimony is relevant in a sexual harassment case... We may be asking these other women to testify," she said.
At the same time the lawsuit was announced, Carlson wrote on Facebook, "As you may have heard, I am no longer with Fox News. I value your support and friendship, especially now, so please stay in touch with me."
No comments:
Post a Comment