Ex-Fox News anchor sues boss Roger Ailes for sexual harassment

One sexy Fat Bastard:

Supercut: Gretchen Carlson on 'Fox & Friends'



14 Times Gretchen Carlson Was Objectified on 'Fox & Friends'

http://www.thewrap.com/gretchen-carlson-fox-friends-roger-ailes-sexual-harassment/

Gretchen Carlson Attorneys Say Roger Ailes’ ‘Low Ratings’ Excuse for Termination Is ‘Demonstrably False’

http://www.thewrap.com/gretchen-car...excuse-for-termination-is-demonstrably-false/

That Time Gretchen Carlson Walked Off 'Fox & Friends' Over Sexism

http://www.thewrap.com/gretchen-carlson-walked-off-fox-and-friends-over-sexism/

JUST IN: Fox News Corp Enters Panic Mode As 10 More Women Come Forward With Abuse Allegations

Long-time Fox News host, Gretchen Carlson, is suing her former employer because she claims she was fired for denying Roger Aliles’s sexual advances and alleges that she experienced “severe and pervasive harassment” during her tenure with the conservative news network. It turns out that Carlson’s suit might be only the tip of the iceberg as 10 other women have recently contacted Carlson’s attorney with their own stories of harassment.

CNN’s Brian Stelter says he spoke to one of the attorneys involved in Carlson’s suit and he confirmed that the firm has been contacted though the women have not joined Carlson’s suit.

http://bipartisanreport.com/2016/07...re-women-come-forward-with-abuse-allegations/

Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren Backs Her Boss, Roger Ailes, in Gretchen Carlson Lawsuit

In an exclusive interview, the host says she doesn’t believe Roger Ailes sexually harassed Gretchen Carlson — who, she thinks, is ‘quite unhappy that her contract wasn’t renewed.’

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articl...-roger-ailes-in-gretchen-carlson-lawsuit.html

He looks disgusting to me.

Sources: Megyn Kelly Told Murdoch Investigators That Roger Ailes Sexually Harassed Her

By Gabriel Sherman, New York Magazine, July 19, 2016

Quote:

As a chorus of prominent Fox News women have gone public defending Roger Ailes against the wave of sexual-harassment allegations sparked by former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson’s lawsuit, the network’s biggest star, Megyn Kelly, has been conspicuously silent. Kelly’s refusal to join in Ailes’s orchestrated defense has led to speculation about why.

Now we have the answer. According to two sources briefed on parent company 21st Century Fox’s outside probe of the Fox News executive, led by New York–based law firm Paul, Weiss, Kelly has told investigators that Ailes made unwanted sexual advances toward her about ten years ago when she was a young correspondent at Fox. Kelly, according to the sources, has described her harassment by Ailes in detail.

Kelly’s comments to investigators might explain why the Murdochs are moving so quickly to oust Ailes. As New York reported yesterday, Rupert and sons James and Lachlan, the three top executives at 21st Century Fox, have, according to multiple sources, decided that Ailes needs to be removed. Kelly, who has become something of a feminist icon thanks to her tangles with GOP nominee Donald Trump, is seen by many inside Fox as the future of the network. She’s currently in contract negotiations, and given that Bill O’Reilly has said he’s considering retirement, Fox can’t afford to lose her.

According to two sources, Monday afternoon lawyers for 21st Century Fox gave Ailes a deadline of August 1 to resign or face being fired for cause. Ailes’s legal team — which now includes Susan Estrich, former campaign manager for Michael Dukakis — has yet to respond to the offer. Ailes has also received advice on strategy from Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani, sources say.

Ailes’s strategy so far has included attacking Kelly in the press. According to sources, Ailes spokesperson Irena Briganti has been criticizing Kelly to reporters, saying she is selfish to not stand up for the man who gave her career opportunities. Roughly a dozen Fox women have praised Ailes since Carlson filed her suit. According to a Fox source, the pro-Ailes campaign has been led by Fox anchor Kimberly Guilfoyle, who has filled in hosting Carlson's former 2 p.m. time slot.

Briganti did not respond to a request for comment.

Back in the mid-2000s, when Ailes allegedly harassed her, Kelly, a former corporate attorney, was a legal correspondent in Fox’s Washington bureau. Soon she was appearing regularly on Bill O’Reilly’s show and hosting her own legal segments. In 2010, Ailes gave her a two-hour daytime show, and in 2013, he moved her into prime time to replace Sean Hannity at 9 p.m.

Kelly’s agent Matthew DelPiano at CAA did not respond to requests for comment. 21st Century Fox did not comment.

Meanwhile, the Paul, Weiss lawyers are attempting to interview former Fox employees who have stories of harassment but haven’t spoken because they signed settlements with Ailes’s Fox attorney, Dianne Brandi. 21st Century Fox is now waiving the NDAs to allow women to speak.

Source:
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/07/sources-kelly-said-ailes-sexually-harassed-her.html

deleted due to derpiness

Smiling Roger Ailes leaves Fox HQ arm-in arm with his wife as he 'negotiates his departure and $40m payout' after Gretchen Carlson sex pest lawsuit

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...yout-following-sexual-harassment-lawsuit.html

Drudge Tweet on Roger Ailes Sets Off Media Scramble | The New York Times

Shortly before 5 p.m., 21st Century Fox released a statement. “Roger is at work,” the company said. “The review is ongoing. And the only agreement that is in place is his existing employment agreement.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/20/b...port-of-deal-for-ailes-to-leave-fox-news.html

Oy. whatta mess! lol

Internal Inquiry Sealed the Fate of Roger Ailes at Fox | The New York Times

Quote:

Executives at 21st Century Fox decided to end the tenure of Roger Ailes after lawyers they hired to investigate an allegation of sexual harassment against him took statements from at least six other women who described inappropriate behavior from Mr. Ailes, two people briefed on the inquiry said Wednesday.

One of the people said that the details of the allegations, while unverified, were troubling enough that they left 21st Century Fox little choice but to force an end to Mr. Ailes’s reign as chairman and chief executive of Fox News, given the potential liability they presented to the company both legally and in terms of its own corporate culture.

The people with knowledge of the state of discussions over Mr. Ailes’s exit agreement said both sides were working toward an accommodation that would recognize Mr. Ailes’s service to the company as the founder and leader of Fox News, which sits atop the cable news ratings and is a major profit engine for 21st Century Fox. The agreement could also include a provision for him to continue with Fox as a consultant.

But given the personalities and complications involved, the situation was fluid enough that no accommodation had been reached by Wednesday night.

Fox News did not respond to requests for comment on the status of the discussions or on the investigation, which is being conducted by the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. Lawyers for Mr. Ailes did not respond to requests for comment.

Mr. Ailes has denied the allegations of sexual harassment and more than a dozen Fox News staff members, including some top stars, have publicly supported him.

The people briefed on the investigation, who would not speak for attribution because of the sensitivity of the investigation, stressed that it was narrowly focused on the allegations against Mr. Ailes, and not the broader climate at the network.

But Mr. Ailes’s departure will have much wider implications.

Given Fox News’s place as a central hub for conservative opinion — not to mention as a primary outlet for the Republican nominee for president, Donald J. Trump — the shape of its post-Ailes operation goes beyond corporate intrigue at 21st Century Fox, and could have consequences for the national political dialogue.

In the two weeks since Gretchen Carlson, a former Fox anchor, filed suit against Mr. Ailes, the Murdoch family, which runs 21st Century Fox, has made it clear that its decision to take the allegations seriously was in keeping with its desire to follow modern standards for office conduct, and that these needed to extend to Fox News, as well.

The question in the post-Ailes environment is to what extent the Murdochs decide to continue on with Mr. Ailes’s current management team. That, in turn, could determine the future approach and look of the network, which is the outlet of choice for conservative-leaning viewers seeking an alternative to the mainstream media.

Continued here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/21/b...nks-ailes-questions-about-fox-newss-fate.html

Fox News chief Ailes resigns after sexual harassment claims

Quote:

Roger Ailes on Thursday resigned as chairman and chief executive of Fox News Channel following allegations of sexual harassment, an abrupt end to his 20-year rein over America's most lucrative and powerful cable news channel for conservatives.

Rupert Murdoch, 85, the executive chairman of Twenty-First Century Fox Inc, the parent of Fox News, will assume the role of CEO Fox News and Fox Business Network on an interim basis, the company said on Thursday.

Ailes, who will serve as an informal adviser to Rupert Murdoch and no longer have an official role at the company, will receive a severance package of about $40 million, according to a source familiar with the situation, who asked to remain anonymous.

In his resignation letter to Murdoch, Ailes did not indicate he had done anything wrong.

"I take particular pride in the role that I have played advancing the careers of the many women I have promoted to executive and on-air positions" Ailes wrote in the letter, which his lawyer Susan Estrich provided to Reuters.

However, he added: "I will not allow my presence to become a distraction from the work that must be done every day to ensure that Fox News and Fox Business continue to lead our industry."

<snipped>

Trump tweeted on Thursday, “Roger Ailes just called. He is a great guy; assures me that 'Trump' will be treated fairly on @FoxNews. His word is always good!”

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-twenty-first-fox-ailes-idUSKCN1012SU

Roger Ailes Is Out, But Nothing Will Change at Fox News

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/07/21/roger_ailes_ouster_won_t_change_fox_news.html

Roger Ailes Exit Prompts Mixed Reactions From Industry

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/roger-ailes-exit-industry-reacts-913341

Roger Ailes’ forced resignation is a repudiation of the Fox News worldview.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_facto..._a_repudiation_of_the_fox_news_worldview.html

Gretchen Carlson ‏@GretchenCarlson 3 hours ago
My lawyers' statement after #RogerAiles resigns.
Thank you to everyone who supported me.
#StandWithGretchen

So, he's gone - but not really. He's Rupert's new informal advisor.

Wonder what Rupert needs Roger Ailes' help with? Why wouldn't he wait to see the outcome of the lawsuit(s) first? Will he still be on the payroll?

I do wish Rupert would come on here and answer some of these questions - he doesn't even need to be humble about it. I suppose James would do, at a pinch.
#StandWithGretchen

Someone shouldn't create a fake Rupert Murdoch account and pretend to answer the questions, because that would be (fun and) bad.

https://twitter.com/search?f=users&q=Rupert Murdoch

Who gives a shit what asshole Trump says??

Wow! Lotta Rupert Murdoch's there! lol

Old fat man with excess testosterone surrounded by young well tarted up women. How could this go so wrong?

No wonder the Republican Party has gone full retard. It's got a twisted cult at its heart. Slowpoke.jpg, but I now understand why Trump was so critical of Megan Kelly. He was showing Roger Ailes that he's a true bro.

I feel sorry for the women trying to build a career over there at Rape TV. And I'm disgusted with all the men who couldn't do something to protect them.

The GOP was according to some analysis' aiming squarely for the retard throne when they elected Barry Goldwater back in the 1960s, swapping out economic conservatism for social conservatism. From then on, and particularly under Reagan and Bush Jr., the has constantly sought further and further right.

I'm always astonished at how good of a mind reader you are. Can you teach me that?

Goldwater was a conservative running against one of the most corrupt politicians in American history. I'd say that Goldwater was the last gasp of principled conservatism. After that, the GOP joined the Democrats in being fully corrupt.

I'd say what you see as the GOP turning right is more the Dems turning so hard left the GOP only look conservative. Nixon pretty much destroyed the notion of a conservative party back in 1971 when he asserted we are all Keynesians now. We have two parties that want power. That's their raison d'être.

I suppose left and right is partly a matter of viewpoint. Back when Bill Clinton was president, he was accused of "driving in both lanes", i.e. taking on board some points of the Republican policies. This was particularly true for some liberal principles of economic deregulation. Essentially, he was occupying the centre of the political divide, much like Blair did in Britain (and a number of social democratic parties in Europe at the time).

Thus from my perspective, it isn't the Democrats turning left, it's more the whole field turning right, squeezing the GOP well into the dark blue/brown gutter. Hillary Clinton belong to the right faction of the Democratic party, hence the rise of Sanders, who appealed to the left wing who felt alienated by Hillary Clinton.

My analysis is centred in fiscal and foreign policy though. If you look at health-care, your version events is probably a better description. Then again, us over here in the rest of the world have never understood why someone would want the US system, which is why I leave it out of my considerations.

Trump's ex wife said he raped her. Ailes is a rapist. The two are quite friendly.

Ailes' victims say that he would order them to suck off his friends. I would really like to know the names of the guys in that circle.

Roger Ailes' alleged use of Fox funds raises liability questions | CNN

On Sunday, New York Magazine's Gabriel Sherman reported that Ailes used his company's budget "to hire consultants, political operatives, and private detectives" to go after his enemies, including journalists who wrote critical articles about him.

Now, legal experts tell CNNMoney that, if true, such actions could make 21st Century Fox liable to its shareholders.

http://money.cnn.com/2016/08/08/media/roger-ailes-consultants-21st-century-fox-liability/

Former Fox News Host Andrea Tantaros Says Ailes Sexually Harassed Her Too | Mediaite

Quote:

Another former Fox Newser is coming forward with allegations of sexual harassment with Roger Ailes, and it’s another high-profile female host who parted ways with the network this year.

Andrea Tantaros has not been on Fox News since April. At the time, Fox said there was a contract issue that led to her being kicked off the air, supposedly on a temporary basis. (This was announced a day after her new book was released.)

Well, according to New York Magazine‘s Gabriel Sherman, not only is Tantaros saying she made senior Fox executives aware of Ailes sexually harassing her, but she was allegedly taken off the air after she came forward.

Her lawyer Judd Burstein directly told Sherman, “I believe it’s retaliatory.”

Here’s what Tantaros is alleging:

According to Tantaros’s account, Ailes began harassing her on August 12, 2014. During a meeting in Ailes’s office, Ailes allegedly asked Tantaros to do “the twirl” so he could see her figure. She refused. Then, in mid-December of that year, Ailes made another advance, Burstein says. “Ailes asked her to turn around, and then he said, ‘Come over here so I can give you a hug.’” Tantaros rebuffed the advance, Burstein says.

In February 2015, Tantaros was pulled off the 5 p.m. program The Five and demoted to working full-time on the midday show Outnumbered. In February 2015, according to Burstein, Ailes allegedly harassed Tantaros again in his office, asking about her workout routine because her body “looked good” and mentioning that she must “really look good in a bikini.”

She claims that after she filed a complaint in April 2015, Fox News executive vice president Bill Shine “allegedly told her, ‘Roger is a very powerful man,’ and that she ‘should not fight this.'”

Continued here:
http://www.mediaite.com/online/form...antaros-says-ailes-sexually-harassed-her-too/

It's an old KGB trick, lure political figures into sexually compromising situations then use evidence of that for blackmail. I wonder how many conservatives friendly with Ailes have been compromised by this blowjob racket. Like Cenk said above, I would love for the Feds to go looking for recordings. But Ailes is smart and likely hid his leverage very well.

So Roger Ailes was running Fair Game ops against perceived enemies all the time. HQ for these ops was "the black room" at Fox News. After Ailes got the boot, people got in there and found dox about all kinds of dirty tricks, just like Scientology. I hope more of this extortion and intimidation network is exposed.

Fox news had a back ops central? How very surprising!

Not surprising that the fat bastard was like Hubbard in his genius at getting control over others, but good to have hard evidence of his ops.

Was there "freedom of the press" at Fox? Or were people intimidated for wanting to report info that challenged the dominant narratives?

Challenging the narrative requires wishing to do so in the first place. I guess the only people who want to work at Fox headquarters are people who share their aganda in the first place. I don't think the freedom of press even enters into it.

To the degrees it does, it seems there's at least some leeway. Kelly very obviously do not like Trumph, and was allowed to say so very openly on screen for quite a while, until he became the Republican candidate. Only then did the channel rein her in (or she rained herself in).

Conservatives ought to have a range of opinions, based on varying areas of experience and expertise. So it's weird how uniform opinions at Fox seemed to be on things like global warming.

Anyway, I think the idea of "conservative" news is just as daft as conservative facts or conservative science. Branding news in that way is Orwellian.

As long as there is a Conservapedia out there, it's only mildly daft by comparison.

Here's a post about Roger Ailes advising Donald Trump:
https://whyweprotest.net/threads/th...itable-billionaire.79073/page-23#post-2590574

Fox Settles with Gretchen Carlson for $20 Million — and Offers an Unprecedented Apology

Act II of the Ailes saga may have just begun.

Excerpt:

Though Carlson’s case is against Ailes personally, Fox is essentially his insurer for any settlement, according to two people familiar with the arrangement, and discussions between Ailes’s legal team and 21st Century Fox’s legal team became very tense regarding how much Ailes might pay in a settlement. (At press time, it was unclear how much Ailes was personally on the hook for.) As part of the language at the end of the settlement, numerous people with knowledge of the deal told me, Carlson has agreed not to bring any further legal action against other executives at Fox News, or against the company itself.

The settlement punctuates an important chapter in the Ailes scandal. While the Paul, Weiss investigation interviewed more than 20 women, according to two sources familiar with the process, it never officially expanded to examine the broader culture of Fox News. The firm, according to numerous people familiar with the process, was apparently never ordered to scour the company’s hard drives for all evidence of sexual harassment or bawdy culture. In some ways, according to one person familiar with the process, the Paul, Weiss investigation simply got a revenue machine back on track.

http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/09/fox-news-settles-with-gretchen-carlson-for-20-million

Fox News Will Pay Gretchen Carlson $20 Million To Settle Sexual Harassment Suit

Excerpt:

News of the settlement was first reported Tuesday morning by Vanity Fair; a source with knowledge of the settlement then confirmed the deal to David, and the company later issued a statement about it.

"We sincerely regret and apologize for the fact that Gretchen was not treated with the respect and dignity that she and all of our colleagues deserve," 21st Century Fox says in part of that statement.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-...n-20-million-to-settle-sexual-harassment-suit

Gretchen Carlson to Guest Host 9AM Hour of ‘Today’ Show Following Roger Ailes Saga | Variety

Quote:

Former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson, who famously filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Roger Ailes this summer, will guest host the 9 a.m. hour of the “Today” show on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

Carlson made the announcement Friday on her Twitter, tweeting that she is “excited to be guest hosting.” She also teased that she will be delivering some news while she’s on the morning show, writing, “Pls join me on NBC for announcements!” including the hashtags “new year,” “2017” and “never give up.”

Carlson filed her lawsuit against Ailes this past July, which set off a domino effect of allegations from multiple woman against the embattled Fox News chief, ultimately forcing him to resign from the company. Carlson reportedly received a $20 million settlement, plus a public apology from the cable news network.

Tuesday’s episode of “Today” will mark Carlson’s first on-air hosting gig, following the Fox News debacle. Since settling the sexual harassment case, Carlson has kept a relatively low profile, but she did sit down with ABC News for a “20/20” special in November. During her interview, Carlson said, “I hope I’ve helped other women to win.”

The 9 a.m. hour of “Today” has been in flux ever since the departure of Billy Bush, who came under widespread scrutiny for the now-infamous leaked audio tapes with President-Elect Donald Trump, in which Bush and Trump were heard making vulgar comments about women. Bush was hired to co-anchor the 9 a.m. hour of “Today” just weeks prior to his controversial exit. Since, the hour has been hosted by Tamron Hall, Al Roker and usually a guest.

Continued at https://variety.com/2016/biz/news/gretchen-carlson-today-show-guest-host-1201950456/

see! there is some justice out there.
Thank Xenu they were not COS members, she would end up with nothing.

Scientology Filmmaker Alex Gibney Prepping Roger Ailes Doc (Exclusive) | Hollywood Reporter

The 'Going Clear' director's independent project comes on the heels of Annapurna Pictures scooping up a pitch from 'Big Short' writer Charles Randolph about the women who brought down the former Fox News chairman with accusations of sexual harassment.

Quote:

More of Roger Ailes is heading to the big screen. Alex Gibney quietly has been prepping a documentary about the former Fox News chairman, who exited in the summer amid sexual assault claims from women including anchors Gretchen Carlson and Megyn Kelly. Gibney (UTA) confirms the film's existence but declines to elaborate. "As a matter of course, I don't talk about what I'm working on," he tells THR.

The move comes just two months after Annapurna Pictures nabbed an untitled pitch from The Big Short's Charles Randolph about the women who brought down the man once considered the most powerful in media, as well as Ailes' wife, Elizabeth Tilson.

At THR's Women in Entertainment event in December, Kelly praised the Fox News women "who, with their stilettos and nerves of steel, formed an underground army and, at great risk to their livelihoods, brought down a very powerful serial sexual harasser." Whether Gibney's film focuses on that aspect of Ailes or his political influence, the doc is likely to spark controversy. But the filmmaker is no stranger to hot-button topics, having exposed U.S. torture in Afghanistan in 2007's Oscar-winning Taxi to the Dark Side and confronted the Church of Scientology with 2015's Going Clear — another project he prepped stealthily.

Though Gibney works frequently with HBO, he does not do so exclusively. The Ailes doc is being developed independently and currently is not set up. Gibney's most recent documentary, Zero Days, which was on the Oscar short list this year, was produced with Showtime Documentary Films.

Also in the works is a miniseries based on reporting by journalist Gabriel Sherman, whose Ailes biography The Loudest Voice in the Room will serve as source material. That project, from Blumhouse Television, also promises to delve into the newsman's alleged misconduct.

Source: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ne...r-alex-gibney-prepping-roger-ailes-doc-968489

Fox Is Said to Settle With Former Contributor Over Sexual Assault Claims

By Emily Steel, The New York Times

Quote:

Last summer, as it wrapped up multiple settlements after the Roger Ailes sexual harassment scandal, Fox News and its parent company, 21st Century Fox, were trying hard to end the ugliest chapter in its 20-year history.

The downfall of Mr. Ailes, the former chairman and chief executive, had exposed a newsroom culture that many women there called hostile and demeaning. 21st Century Fox ordered an internal investigation and stated publicly that “behavior that disrespects women” would not be tolerated.

Nearly eight months later, the company finds itself still dealing with fallout from that crisis. In late February, 21st Century Fox reached a settlement worth more than $2.5 million with a former Fox News contributor who reported that she was sexually assaulted by an executive at company headquarters two years ago, according to people briefed on the agreement.

The contributor, Tamara N. Holder, has said that the network executive tried to force her to perform oral sex on him in February 2015 when the two were alone in his office, according to interviews with four people briefed on her account, and documents that detail her claims. Ms. Holder did not immediately report the episode to the company or the police, fearing that doing so would ruin her career, interviews and documents show.

Ms. Holder reported her allegations to Fox News last fall. The network investigated her claims, and the executive, Francisco Cortes, the vice president for Fox News Latino, was terminated, according to two people familiar with the matter. Ms. Holder left Fox News after her contract expired on January 1, 2017.

Jay Sanchez, a lawyer for Mr. Cortes, said Wednesday night in an email: “I am presently considering Mr. Cortes’ legal options.” Multiple attempts to reach Mr. Cortes by phone, by email, on social media and in person for comment were unsuccessful.

In a rare public disclosure on Wednesday, Fox News released a joint statement with Ms. Holder saying that in September 2016 she “reported an incident of sexual assault at Fox News headquarters from the prior year.”

“Immediately after Ms. Holder notified Fox News of the alleged incident, the company promptly investigated the matter and took decisive action, for which Ms. Holder thanks the network,” the statement continued. “Fox News is grateful to Ms. Holder for her many contributions during her tenure at the network and wishes her continued success.”

In an email, Ms. Holder said: “Yes, I was sexually assaulted. Immediately after I told the company where I worked about the incident, it promptly investigated the matter and took action, which I appreciate.”

In the months since Mr. Ailes’s departure, 21st Century Fox has struck agreements with several women who made sexual harassment complaints about Mr. Ailes and others at the network. They include a $20 million settlement with Gretchen Carlson, whose lawsuit against Mr. Ailes in July led to his ouster; a deal with Juliet Huddy, a longtime Fox News personality who made sexual harassment claims against the network’s top-rated host, Bill O’Reilly; and now the agreement with Ms. Holder, who had been a legal and political analyst at Fox News since 2010.

Mr. Ailes and Mr. O’Reilly have denied the sexual harassment claims against them.

Adding to the challenges facing Fox is the prospect of a criminal investigation into the network’s settlement payments, an inquiry disclosed in a court hearing last month by the lawyer for a former Fox employee suing the company. Fox News has said it had not received a subpoena but had “been in communication with the U.S. attorney’s office for months.”

Ms. Holder’s story provides a look at the struggles a woman can face when deciding whether to make accusations against an executive. Multiple lawyers, who typically take a third of negotiated settlements, told her that her case had little value because she was not a big star, like Ms. Carlson, and her claims were against a lesser-known executive, rather than a powerful figure like Mr. Ailes, the people briefed on her account said.

“I was told by agents and lawyers that if I opened up, I would forever be ‘toxic’ and my career would be over,” Ms. Holder said in an email. “I worked hard and loved my job but I could not be speechless. I had to turn my fear into courage.”

Continued at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/08/business/fox-news-roger-ailes-sexual-assault-settlement.html

More Trouble at Fox News: Ailes Faces New Sexual Claims and O’Reilly Loses an Advertiser | The New York Times

Quote:

The sexual harassment scandal that engulfed Fox News last year and led to the ouster of its chairman, Roger Ailes, continued to batter the network on Monday, as a new lawsuit described unwanted sexual advances by Mr. Ailes and a major advertiser pulled its spots from the show of its top-rated host, Bill O’Reilly.

Mercedes-Benz said it was withdrawing its ads from Mr. O’Reilly’s prime-time show, “The O’Reilly Factor,” after The New York Times published an investigation this weekend that found five women who made allegations of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior against him. Those five women received settlements totaling about $13 million, The Times reported.

Together, the developments portray a network buffeted by allegations on multiple fronts, even as it draws record ratings with programming supportive of President Trump. Staff members remain anxious, some said on Monday, over questions about its workplace culture and its priorities.

If more advertisers abandon Mr. O’Reilly’s show, it would be a blow to Fox News, which provides billions of dollars in revenue each year to its parent company, 21st Century Fox. Mr. O’Reilly has long been the pugnacious face of a prime-time lineup that sets the tone for conservative commentary. His show attracts almost 4 million viewers a night, and from 2014 through 2016 it generated more than $446 million in advertising revenue, according to the research firm Kantar Media.

“Given the importance of women in every aspect of our business, we don’t feel this is a good environment in which to advertise our products right now,” Donna Boland, the manager of corporate communications for Mercedes-Benz, wrote in an email. Mercedes-Benz has spent an estimated $1.9 million in ads on “The O’Reilly Factor” in the last year, according to iSpot.tv, the TV ad analytics firm.

Despite Mr. O’Reilly’s history of settlements and the series of allegations against him, the company has extended his contract, which was set to expire this year, according to people familiar with the matter. Mr. O’Reilly makes about $18 million per year. When the company extended the contract, it knew of multiple settlements that had been reached with women who complained about his behavior.

The company says it has discussed the issue with Mr. O’Reilly. It believes his new contract gives it more leverage over him regarding his behavior, according to two people familiar with the matter. Mr. O’Reilly has said that the allegations are without merit. He did not address the controversy on his show Monday night.

Earlier on Monday, Julie Roginsky, a current Fox News contributor, filed a lawsuit against Mr. Ailes, Fox News and Bill Shine, the network’s co-president, asserting that she faced retaliation for rebuffing Mr. Ailes’s sexual advances and for refusing to disparage Gretchen Carlson, the former Fox News host who sued Mr. Ailes last summer.

And a former regular guest on Mr. O’Reilly’s program, Wendy Walsh, who had recounted her allegations against him to The Times, held a news conference with her lawyer to discuss those claims and to call for an independent inquiry into sexual harassment at the network.

Also, the United States attorney’s office in Manhattan is investigating Fox News, including how it structured settlements.

On Monday, Fox News moved to contain the fallout from the weekend’s developments, urging its employees in an internal memo to report inappropriate behavior to the human resources department or other network executives. “Particularly in light of some of the accounts published over the last few days, I wanted to re-emphasize the message we have been conveying at our training sessions for several months,” said Kevin Lord, the network’s new head of human resources, who was hired in the aftermath of the Ailes scandal.

Continued at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/03/business/media/fox-news-roger-ailes-harassment-suit.html

Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai Pull 'O'Reilly Factor' Ads Amid Sexual Harassment Controversy | Hollywood Reporter

Excerpt:

Hyundai released a statement late Monday announcing it was pulling its ads from The O'Reilly Factor. In a statement to Buzzfeed, the Korean carmaker said that it was "reallocating" upcoming ads "due to recent and disturbing allegations." The company added that it sought to partner with companies that shared its "values of inclusion and diversity."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ne...e=twitter&utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral