Former FOX News anchor and Minnesota native Gretchen Carlson and FOX have reached a settlement.
According to reports, Carlson will receive $20 Million and an apology from her former employer, FOX News.
Carlson had sued Roger Ailes, the 76-year-old former CEO of Fox News, for sexual harassment. Ailes has since left his position at the network in July 2016 amid sexual harassment allegations from multiple women who came forward after Carlson filed her lawsuit against him.
FOX News’ parent company, 21st Century FOX issued a statement earlier today apologizing to Carlson for the treatment she received during her tenure at the network.
The statement reads:
“21st Century Fox is pleased to announce that it has settled Gretchen Carlson’s lawsuit. During her tenure at Fox News, Gretchen exhibited the highest standards of journalism and professionalism. She developed a loyal audience and was a daily source of information for many Americans. We are proud that she was part of the Fox News team. 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.”
Carlson also said in the statement that she is “gratified” 21st Century Fox took “decisive action” in the wake of her complaint, which resulted in Ailes leaving the network. Carlson added, “I’m ready to move on to the next chapter of my life in which I will redouble my efforts to empower women in the workplace.”
“I want to thank all the brave women who came forward to tell their own stories and the many people across the country who embraced and supported me in their #StandWithGretchen,” she said. “All women deserve a dignified and respectful workplace in which talent, hard work and loyalty are recognized, revered and rewarded.”
Carlson, who was born and raised in Minnesota, said in the lawsuit that she was fired as host of “Fox and Friends” in 2013 and was demoted after she refused Ailes’ sexual advances. She then went on to host her own midday show on Fox News Channel, “Real Story with Gretchen Carlson”.
After she rejected him, Carlson said that Ailes retaliated against her by “ostracizing, marginalizing and shunning her,” and he told her that her problems would be solved if “she had a sexual relationship with him.”
She also claimed she had been subjected to sexual harassment from other members of the Fox team, including Steve Doocy, her co-host on “FOX and Friends.” In the complaint filed back in July 2016, Carlson said that she had told to her supervisor back in September 2009 that Doocy created a “hostile work environment” by “regularly treating (Carlson) in a sexist and condescending way, including putting his hand on her and pulling down her arm to shush her during a live telecast.”
Vanity Fair Magazine reports that Fox’s settlement with Carlson was for $20 million, with the company effectively acting as the insurer for Ailes, even though the lawsuit was filed against him personally. As part of the settlement, the magazine reports that Carlson will agree not to bring any further legal action against Fox News executives or the company.
