Gretchen Carlson Has Filed A Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against The Chairman Of Fox News
Gretchen Carlson, the former co-host of Fox & Friends who looks like your uncle’s second wife that drinks white wine with a straw and pronounces it “Jai-zuss“, announced on Twitter yesterday that she was no longer at Fox News. As it turns out, she handed her boss more than just her resignation papers. The New York Times says that Gretchen also filed a sexual harassment lawsuit in New Jersey yesterday against Fox News chairman Roger Ailes.
According to the lawsuit, 50-year-old Gretchen alleges that during a meeting last fall to discuss concerns she had at work, 76-year-old Roger Ailes told her that they should have fucked a long time ago and suggested they start a relationship. The lawsuit states that Roger allegedly told her sleeping with the boss would be “good and better” for them both, and that “sometimes problems are easier to solve” with sex. Gretchen claims to have declined, and that’s when Roger allegedly started making things messy for her. The lawsuit claims that Roger then reduced Gretchen’s salary, decreased her on-air appearances, and declined to renew her contract last month. Gretchen has been employed by Fox News since 2006.
Gretchen’s lawsuit also alleges that Roger was a “serial sexual harasser” who was no stranger to ogling her in his office or calling her “sexy.”
I’m sure all our eyes could use a break from looking at a picture of an uncomfortable-looking spray-tanned former Miss America mom in a satin party dress sandwiched between two pervy-looking hands. So let’s take a look at the man Gretchen is suing for sexual harassment, shall we?
This is Roger Ailes, a man who looks like Dick Cheney made a baby with Dr. Scarab from Bionic Six. Despite the fact that he’s giving off major creeper vibes in the picture above, Fox News’ parent company, 21st Century Fox, released a statement last night about this whole situation and they want you to know they’re firmly on Team Roger. They add that they’re taking Gretchen’s allegations “seriously“, but that they have “full confidence” in Roger.
Roger released a statement of his own yesterday, and no, it wasn’t to let Gretchen know the offer to fuck his old saggy ass was still on the table. It was to slap back at Gretchen’s allegations with a few allegations of his own.
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.
Gretchen’s lawyer, Nancy Erika Smith, wants people to know that Gretchen was thinking of filling the lawsuit before she was let go, but that her termination “pulled the trigger” for them. There it is – I knew someone from Fox News would use a gun metaphor.
You can read Gretchen Carlson’s entire lawsuit here, if reading lawsuits is something you’re into. Gretchen also gets into one of the reasons she was meeting with Roger in the first place. According to the lawsuit, Gretchen was tired her of her Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy acting like – to quote Jessie Spano – a sexist pig. Gretchen alleges that Steve Douchey treated her like a “blonde female prop” and engaged in a pattern of “pervasive sexual harassment.” According to the lawsuit, Roger Ailes responded to her allegations against Steve by calling her a “man hater.”
This isn’t the first time Gretchen has spoken out about sexual harassment. About a year ago, she wrote about her experience with workplace sexual harassment for the Huffington Post.
Roger is rich, and he’s got Satan on his side (who do you think notarizes the contracts for Fox News?), so who knows how this will all play out. One thing is for sure: Gretchen’s lawyer won’t have to work very hard to prove that Gretchen was basically a life-size Right Wing Barbie to the co-hosts of Fox & Friends.
Pics: Fox, Splash