In a bombshell story from this week, longtime Fox News host Gretchen Carlson has announced that she is filing a lawsuit against her former boss, Roger Ailes, for wrongful termination and sexual harassment.
The news hit after an email was sent to reporters on Wednesday afternoon by Carlson’s lawyers. She was the host of The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson and former co-host of the morning show Fox & Friends.
According to the email, her contract was terminated on June 23. Fox did not publicly announce the contract termination, and Carlson said on her Twitter account at the time that she was “on vacation.”
“I have strived to empower women and girls throughout my entire career,” Carlson said in a statement. “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 lawsuit includes examples of Ailes behaving inappropriately toward Carlson, reportedly telling her, “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.” But the lawsuit also mentions sexist treatment from her co-hosts on Fox & Friends, namely Steve Doocy, accusing him of “generally attempting to put [Carlson] in her place by refusing to accept and treat her as an intelligent and insightful female journalist rather than a blonde female prop.”
Not being an avid watcher of Carlson’s shows on Fox, I didn’t realize that the sexist environment at her workplace was so obvious on-camera in addition to the off-camera harassment Carlson faced. But a new video released by Bloomberg chronicling sexist comments directed at Carlson from her colleagues is shockingly revealing and heartbreaking.
The video shows co-hosts Doocy and Brian Kilmeade talk about Carlson’s skirt, comment on her appearance, and only ask for her expertise when it comes to underwear. Fox host Eric Bolling is also seen on the video commenting on Carlson’s appearance.
“For bra stories, defer to the babe,” Kilmeade says to Carlson at one point in the video.
Watch:
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