Gretchen Carlson files sexual harassment suit against Fox News chief Roger Ailes
Former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Roger Ailes, alleging that the network’s chairman and chief executive fired her after she refused to sleep with him.
According to the suit filed Wednesday in New Jersey Superior Court, Carlson alleges that she was terminated by Ailes on June 23 after she complained about a toxic workplace environment and “rebuffed his sexual advances.”
Carlson called her firing “the ultimate retaliation” for refusing to sleep with the 76-year-old cable news chief.
The complaint alleges that during a meeting with Ailes last September, Carlson complained about “ongoing discriminatory and retaliatory treatment.”
“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 responded to Carlson, according to the complaint. “Sometimes problems are easier to solve [that way].”
“Carlson rebuffed Ailes’ sexual demands at that meeting, and nine months later, Ailes ended her career at Fox News,” the lawsuit states.
Ailes categorically denied the allegations in a statement released by Fox News on Wednesday evening:
Gretchen Carlson’s allegations are false. This is a retaliatory suit for the network’s decision not to renew her contract, which was due to the fact that her disappointingly low ratings were dragging down the afternoon lineup. When Fox News did not commence any negotiations to renew her contract, Ms. Carlson became aware that her career with the network was likely over and conveniently began to pursue a lawsuit. Ironically, Fox News provided her with more on-air opportunities over her 11 year tenure than any other employer in the industry, for which she thanked me in her recent book. This defamatory lawsuit is not only offensive, it is wholly without merit and will be defended vigorously.
More from Carlson’s suit:
On other occasions, Mr. Ailes asked Ms. Carlson to turn around so he could view her posterior, commented repeatedly about her legs, and instructed her to wear certain outfits that he claimed enhanced her figure. “I’m sure you can do sweet nothings when you want to,” Mr. Ailes allegedly said, while lamenting that marriage was “boring” and declaring that Ms. Carlson was the one person he would want to be stranded with on a desert island.
Mr. Ailes also directed sexist comments to and about Ms. Carlson in public. … When Ms. Carlson approached Mr. Ailes to say hello at an industry event, he boasted to fellow attendees that he always stays seated when a woman approaches so she has to “bend over” to greet him. He further embarrassed Ms. Carlson, at that same event, by announcing to others, in her presence, that he had slept with three former Miss Americas, but not with her.
Carlson, 50, was crowned Miss America in 1989.
The former beauty queen, who served as co-host of “Fox & Friends,” alleges that she was removed from the morning show in 2013 and given a midday time slot after she complained to Ailes about co-host Steve Doocy’s condescending, sexist behavior toward her.
“Mr. Ailes’ response was to mock Ms. Carlson for thinking that ‘it only rains on women’ and to tell her to stop worrying about equal treatment and being ‘offended so God damned easy,‘” the lawsuit states.
According to Carlson, Ailes called her a “man hater” and a “killer” who tried to “show up the boys.”
Her firing, the lawsuit states, caused her “significant economic, emotional and professional harm.”
“I have strived to empower women and girls throughout my entire career,” Carlson said in a statement announcing her lawsuit. “Although this was a difficult step to take, I had to stand up for myself and speak out for all women and the next generation of women in the workplace. I am extremely proud of my accomplishments at Fox News and for keeping our loyal viewers engaged and informed on events and news topics of the day.”
The parent company of Fox News announced Wednesday night that it will conduct an internal investigation over the claims.
“The company has seen the allegations against Mr. Ailes and Mr. Doocy,” 21st Century Fox said in a statement. “We take these matters seriously. While we have full confidence in Mr. Ailes and Mr. Doocy, who have served the company brilliantly for over two decades, we have commenced an internal review of the matter.”
This story has been updated since it was originally published.
Scroll down for Carlson’s full lawsuit.
