Fox News contributor Julie Roginsky has filed a lawsuit against founder of Fox News, Roger Ailes and Fox News themselves. In her 17-page suit for the New York supreme court, Ms. Roginsky noted that, alongside Bill Shine, Fox News’ newly appointed co-president, she was “unlawfully harassed, discriminated against, and retaliated against” and possibly even sabotaged after she continually refused, even complained, about Ailes’ sexual advances. The suit additionally points out that retaliation increased against Roginsky after she refused to disparage Gretchen Carlson’s — a former Fox News contributor — sexual harassment suit against Ailes in 2016.
In similar fashion, Ms. Carlson’s suit filed in the New Jersey Superior Court stated that Ailes “unlawfully retaliated against Carlson and sabotaged her career because she fused his sexual advances and complained about severe and pervasive sexual harassment.” Back in 2016, Ms. Carlson wrote about her history of sexual assault for The New York Times, what needs to change and how things can be changed. “The most important part of this, in my mind, is men and women working together,” she said. “This is not only a women’s issue. It’s a societal issue.”
Unshockingly, Bill O’Reilly, credited for being Fox News’ highest asset through his show The O’Reilly Factor, has acclimated his long list of sexual harassment claims. Most recently, Wendy Walsh, an LA radio host, has spoken out against O’Reilly saying that she “had a business dinner with Mr. Bill O’Reilly.” After he invited her to his hotel room room and she declined, he became hostile towards her until he “eventually barred me from Fox News,” she told Inside Edition. In addition, O’Reilly and/or Fox News has paid up to $13 million in agreement payouts from 5 different women. And, in case it needs stating, paying the suit you’re being served with guarantees no persecution.
Juliet Huddy is yet another one of O’Reilly’s victims who very discreetly and quietly settled with him and Fox News. In 2011, he pursued a sexual relationship with her but after she slowly declined, he attempted to derail her career. He reportedly “had called Ms. Huddy repeatedly and that it sometimes sounded as if he was masturbating. He invited her to his house on Long Island, tried to kiss her, took her to dinner and the theater, and after asking her to return a key to his hotel room, appeared at the door in his boxer shorts.” This was all in a letter obtained by The New York Times. In exchange for an agreement to not sue and silence from Ms. Huddy, she was given large sum of money.
In regards to a report written by Emily Steele and Michael Schmidt for The New York Times highlighting on O’Reilly’s sexual harassment settlements, Bill O’Reilly released a statement saying, “Just like other prominent and controversial people, I’m vulnerable to lawsuits from individuals who want me to pay them to avoid negative publicity. In my more than 20 years at Fox News Channel, no one has ever filed a complaint about me with the Human Resources Department, even on the anonymous hotline. The worst part of my job is being a target for those who would harm me and my employer, the Fox News Channel. Those of us in the arena are constantly at risk, as are our families and children. My primary efforts will continue to be to put forth an honest TV program and to protect those close to me.”
In an attempt to decriminalize himself, he mentioned his children stating, “But most importantly, I’m a father who cares deeply for my children and who would do anything to avoid hurting them in any way. And so I have put to rest any controversies to spare my children.”
This month alone Fox News settled a $2.5 million with Tamar Holder after she reported that back in 2015, an executive at the network attempted to persuade her into giving him oral sex. After a careful investigation, Francisco Cortes, the vice president for Fox News Latino, was terminated. Ms. Holder left the network immediately after her contract expired on January 1st. “Yes, I was sexually assaulted,” wrote Holder in an email to The New York Times. “Immediately after I told the company where I worked about the incident, it promptly investigated the matter and took action, which I appreciate.”
