Although Carlson sued Ailes personally, and not Fox News or 21st Century Fox, the company is paying for the settlement because Ailes’ contract included an indemnification clause.
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In a statement, Fox parent company 21st Century Fox said: “We regret and apologize for the fact that Gretchen was not treated with the respect and dignity that she and all of our colleagues deserve”.
A statement offered no details on the settlement, but the magazine Vanity Fair, citing sources familiar with the case, said Fox would pay the multi-million dollar sum to the journalist and former Miss America.
In denying the allegations in the past, Ailes said, “Gretchen Carlson’s allegations are false”.
Yes, I have left the Fox News Channel. The person also said that at least two other women had settled with Fox stemming from complaints they voiced to investigators from the law firm Paul, Weiss, Wharton & Garrison, which 21st Century Fox hired to look into the accusations against Ailes. Van Susteren was an anchor for 14 years.
At the same time the settlement was announced, Fox News also revealed that Greta Van Susteren is leaving the company. She developed a loyal audience and was a daily source of information for many Americans. Viewers have gotten used to her coverage of current affairs, but it turns out that she has a pretty solid reason for choosing to leave Fox and On the Record.
It’s the latest departure for Fox News, which has seen some serious drama in the past year. “I want to thank all of the fearless women who came forward to tell their own stories and the many people across the country who embraced and supported me.All women deserve a dignified and respectful workplace”.
Huddy began working for Fox in Jacksonville before moving on to Fox News in NY, occasionally filling in on the network’s Fox & Friends morning show, and is the goddaughter of former network embattled Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes.
“I want to thank all the fearless women who came forward to tell their own stories and the many people across the country who embraced and supported me in their #StandWithGretchen”, she said. “The clause had a time limitation, meaning I could not wait”, she added.
FNC said this morning that Thursday had been Van Susteren’s last day, with Hume taking over her show through the presidential election.
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The willingness of 21st Century Fox to settle Carlson’s lawsuit just weeks after it was filed appears to reflect the influence of Lachlan and James Murdoch, the sons of 21st Century Fox executive chairman Rupert Murdoch.
