Fox News Boss Fires Anchor Who Refused Sexual Advances; Suit Filed

The Fox News anchor alleged in her lawsuit that she had been fired for refusing her boss’ sexual advances.

A former Fox News anchor, Gretchen Carlson, filed a suit on Wednesday against the network chief Roger Ailes, saying he fired her for rejecting his sexual advances.

The sexual harassment suit filed in New Jersey state court said Ailes terminated Carlson, who has been with Fox for more than a decade, as a retaliatory act.

Ailes “unlawfully retaliated against Carlson and sabotaged her career because she refused his sexual advances and complained about severe and pervasive sexual harassment,” the lawsuit alleges.

According to the lawsuit, Ailes fired Carlson on 23 June after “ostracising, marginalising and shunning her” and making it clear that “these ‘problems’ would not have existed, and could be solved if she had a sexual relationship with him.”

Carlson, a former Miss America who won the pageant in 1989, joined Fox in 2005 after working at CBS News. During her career, she interviewed numerous world leaders including President Barack Obama, former President George W Bush and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

For over seven years she hosted the highly rated “Fox & Friends” morning news show.

In a statement on Wednesday, the parent company, 21st Century Fox, said “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.

A statement from 21st Century Fox

Ailes said in a statement he would defend himself against “false” and “offensive” allegations.

“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,” Ailes’ statement said. He added that Carlson had thanked him in a recent book.

(With inputs from PTI and Reuters)