Ailes just one of creeps at Fox – co-host
“FOX NEWS masquerades as a defender of traditional family values, but behind the scenes, it operates like a sex-fueled, Playboy Mansion-like cult, steeped in intimidation, indecency and misogyny,” a former co-host for the cable news channel charges in a bombshell $30 million lawsuit against the network and its former boss Roger Ailes.
In papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Andrea Tantaros says Ailes, now an adviser to GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, repeatedly made inappropriate sexually charged comments to her and about her co-workers — then smeared her after she complained about his behavior.
And Ailes “did not act alone,” says the suit, which was first reported by The New York Times. “He may have been the primary culprit, but his actions were condoned by his most senior lieutenants, who engaged in a concerted effort to silence Tantaros by threats, humiliation and retaliation.”
Tantaros, a former Daily News columnist, joined the Fox show “The Five” in 2011.
“From the outset of her employment, it became clear to Tantaros that Fox News was defined by a culture of sexism that emanated from Ailes, and was enforced even by some of his female executives. Thus, in 2011 and continuing throughout her entire tenure at Fox News, Tantaros was repeatedly told by various Fox News wardrobe staffers and executives — male and female — that she could not wear pants onair because ‘Roger wants to see your legs,’ ” the suit says.
Ailes would make remarks about Tantaros’ appearance — and ramped up his bad behavior in August 2014, when he called her into his office, the suit says.
He “improperly asked Tantaros whether she hoped to get married and have kids one day. Ailes then started complaining about marriage in general, and also made off-color jokes about being married” before launching into “a host of inappropriate questions and comments about other people working at Fox News.” Those comments included asking whether “Greg Gutfeld is gay,” complaining about the weight of Maria Bartiromo — who has publicly defended Ailes — and calling Kimberly Guilfoyle “easy.”
He also offered that “if I ever had to go on a date with (Monica Crowley), I’d jump out the window.”
Of Gretchen Carlson — whose own sexual harassment suit against Ailes this year led to his downfall at the network — he said, “She’s nuts,” the suit says.
At one point, the suit says, Ailes asked Tantaros to turn around “so I can get a good look at you,” the suit says.
After rejecting his advances, Tantaros was bumped from “The Five” and moved to another show with a much worse time slot.
A Fox News Channel rep said the organization “does not comment on pending litigation.”
An attorney for Ailes, who has denied that he sexually harassed Fox employees, did not respond to an email.