The company reportedly paid Carlson $20 million to drop the case she had filed with Smith Mullin in Montclair on July 6. The 50-year-old journalist, who was the anchor of The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson, had been with the network 11 years before exiting in July.
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No one can say for sure why the people in control of 21st Century Fox made a decision to settle with Carlson for such a huge figure, and with such a decisive and unambiguous apology for Ailes’ actions.
Carlson thanked “all the fearless women” who came forward to tell their own stories and others who supported her. It’s real money, but they won’t miss it. Roger Ailes is said to be picking up some of this in some reports that have come out in recent moments.
Brit Hume will take over Van Susteren show “On the Record” starting immediately. Ailes has denied Carlson’s claims, and called her lawsuit a retaliation for the network’s decision not to renew her contract. This morning, Greta Van Susteren announced she was quitting Fox News after 14 years with the network, Talking Points Memo reported.
On a related note, Carlson was sacked from the network after she denied sexual advances from Ailes. She also thanked her followers and other victims of abuse for their support throughout the ordeal. He stated, “This defamatory lawsuit is not only offensive, it is wholly without merit and will be defended vigorously”. That was followed in late August by another lawsuit by former host Andrea Tantaros, who also accused Ailes of sexual harassment. Ailes was also indemnified by the company for any damages from the lawsuit. Ailes, who is now advising GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump on the election, has reportedly retained attorney Charles Harder, the lawyer who represented Hulk Hogan in the $140 million invasion of privacy suit against Gawker Media.
Women who are facing sexual harassment at work may feel empowered by Carlson, who stood up to her harassment and won a real and prompt resolution, said Emily Martin, vice president of workplace justice for the National Women’s Law Center.
There have certainly been sexual harassment allegations that have captured the public’s attention since Hill came forward, but for the most part, until Carlson, the accuser has always been someone people don’t know, said Martin.
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Carlson pointed to such episodes as Ailes telling her, “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”.
