Fox settles Carlson's sexual harassment lawsuit against Ailes for $20M

Twenty-First Century Fox, the parent company of Fox News Channel, apologized Tuesday to Gretchen Carlson as it agreed to pay $20 million to the former Fox broadcaster to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit she filed against Fox News' ex-CEO Roger Ailes, according to a person briefed on the settlement terms.
The person requested anonymity because the settlement terms aren't revealed publicly.
"During her tenure at Fox News, Gretchen exhibited the highest standards of journalism and professionalism," the company said in a statement. "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.”


Since Carlson filed her lawsuit in early July, other women have come forward with their claims of sexual harassment at Fox News. And 21st Century Fox, controlled by billionaire mogul Rupert Murdoch, also has settled other claims, the person said.
In a statement, Carlson said she was "gratified that 21st Century Fox took decisive action"  after she filed her complaint. "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," she said.
"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," Carlson said, referring to a Twitter campaign she started. "All women deserve a dignified and respectful workplace in which talent, hard work and loyalty are recognized, revered and rewarded.
In her lawsuit, Carlson said her contract wasn't renewed after she “refused to sleep” with Ailes and reported "severe and pervasive sexual harassment” at her workplace. Fox was not named as a defendant, but its lawyers have worked with Ailes and his lawyer as settlement talks surfaced.

After an internal investigation by 21st Century Fox, Ailes left the company in late July with a $40 million settlement. He has denied Carlson's allegations. Ailes' lawyer, Susan Estrich, declined to comment.
The settlement is the latest evidence of Fox's desire to quickly get past the scandal that has engulfed the conservative newsroom in the midst of a hectic election season. Several prominent Fox broadcasters, including Greta Van Susteren, Sean Hannity, Maria Bartiromo, Bill O'Reilly and Brit Hume, came out in support of Ailes immediately after the lawsuit was filed.
But the conspicuous silence from others, particularly the network's most heavily promoted female anchor, Megyn Kelly, reflected the deep division within the ranks and the professionally precarious position in which Ailes found himself for the first time since he founded the network in 1996. Kelly told the investigators she, too, was harassed by Ailes in the beginning of her career at Fox. And the parent company was careful to keep its distance from Fox News' efforts to mitigate Carlson's claims, which included a charge that her firing was related to ratings.

In mid-August, 21st Century Fox replaced Ailes by naming two internal executives -- Jack Abernethy, CEO of Fox Television Stations; and Bill Shine, senior executive vice president of Fox News -- as co-presidents of the news network.
It wasn't immediately clear what percentage of the settlement sum to Carlson is personally paid by Ailes. But he will contribute to the total, said the person briefed on the settlement terms.
In late August, Andrea Tantaros, a Fox News broadcaster, also filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox News, Ailes and other Fox executives, and said the news network "operates like a sex-fueled, Playboy Mansion-like cult, steeped in intimidation, indecency, and misogyny."

In a legal filing, Fox responded that Tantaros was suspended for breaching her employment contract by publishing a book without the company's approval and said Tantaros never complained about Ailes in an internal probe of her claims. The company said she is "not a victim; she is an opportunist."
Fox News also announced Tuesday that Van Susteren, host of On the Record, is leaving the network after 14 years. She will be temporarily replaced by Hume, a senior political analyst.
"Fox has not felt like home to me for a few years and I took advantage of the clause in my contract which allows me to leave now," she wrote in her Facebook page.
Fox News said her departure "had nothing to do" with Fox's legal settlement with Carlson.