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Former anchor accuses Roger Ailes of sexual harassment

Fox News CEO Roger Ailes (photos by Hollywood Reporter)

A former anchor at Fox News has filed a lawsuit against the CEO of the cable and satellite news television channel Fox News, accusing him of sexual harassment.

Gretchen Carlson, who once hosted "The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson," alleged in the lawsuit, filed Wednesday in New Jersey's Superior Court, that she was fired because she refused to have sex with Roger Ailes.

Carlson “refused to sleep” with Ailes and “reported disparaging treatment in the newsroom,” including a "sexist and condescending" way her co-host, Steve Doocy, dealt with her.

“Ailes has unlawfully retaliated against Carlson and sabotaged her career because she refused his sexual advances and complained about severe and pervasive sexual harassment," the complaint read.

When Carlson (pictured below) met with Ailes to discuss the discriminatory treatment to which she was being subjected, Ailes stated: ‘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,’ adding that ‘sometimes problems are easier to solve’ that way.”

The 21st Century Fox, however, sounded determined to defend its staff, saying,  it had "full confidence" in Ailes and Doocy and has "commenced an internal review of the matter."

Ailes himself reacted to the allegations, saying the suit is a “retaliatory” move against Carlson’s dismissal on June 23, when her contract expired.

"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," he said. "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."

"This defamatory lawsuit is not only offensive, it is wholly without merit and will be defended vigorously," Ailes added.

Carlson’s lawyers, Nancy Erika Smith of Smith Mullin and Martin Hyman of Golenbock Eiseman, responded, saying, "Ailes’ claim that Gretchen Carlson was terminated because of bad ratings is demonstrably false.”

“The publicly available ratings confirm the allegation in the complaint that at the time of her termination Gretchen’s total viewership was up 33% year to date and up 23% in the key demographic,” they wrote.

Once a media consultant to President Richard  Nixon, Ailes is firmly in control of Fox News, owned by Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox.


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