Former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson filed the lawsuit against Ailes following a decision not to renew her contract.
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Roger Ailes, the chairman and CEO of Fox News, “vigorously” denied the sexual harassment claims made by former anchor Gretchen Carlson in a bombshell lawsuit.
This is not the first time Carlson has accused her Fox colleagues of harassment-in 2013, she alleged that her Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy refused “to accept and treat her as an intelligent and insightful female journalist rather than a blonde female prop”.
In response, her complaint alleges, Ailes told her, “You and I should have had a sexual relationship a long time ago”.
“We thought it would happen after [Carlson] was taken off of Fox & Friends”, the source said. “If that happens, we will definitely consider what our options are”, including, she said, adding Fox News to the suit.
In court documents filed in Bergen County’s Superior Court in New Jersey Wednesday, just days after her contract was not renewed, Carlson alleged that her June 23 termination was in retaliation for her rebuffs as well as her complaints about sexual harassment.
Carlson claims that a pattern of sexual harassment in the newsroom over several years culminated in a September meeting in which Ailes propositioned her.
On Wednesday, Carlson posted a statement to her Facebook followers saying, “As you may have heard, I am no longer with Fox News”. Today, she came back swinging, accusing Ailes – one of the most powerful men in media – of a litany of boorish and harassing behavior, including claims he ogled her, made sexual remarks to her, and ultimately fired her for failing to engage in a sexual relationship with him. In a statement, a spokesperson for 21st Century Fox said the company takes “these matters seriously”.
The lawsuit also states that “there were no legitimate business reasons for terminating Ms. Carlson”, citing her show’s steadily increasing viewership into her final month. She says she was sacked in June.
Ailes has yet to comment on the allegations.
When Carlson brought her concerns to Ailes, she says he responded in the most Spanky-like manner imaginable. This is a hard time, but I have to stand up for myself & all women.
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Before joining Fox, Carlson worked as a correspondent for CBS News.
