Fox settles with Carlson over Ailes sex harassment claims
The parent company of Fox News said Tuesday it had settled a lawsuit with its former anchor Gretchen Carlson, who said Roger Ailes had sexually harassed her when he was chairman of the network.
A 21st Century Fox Corp. news release did not specify a settlement amount, but a person briefed on the settlement said it amounted to $20 million.
The person also said that at least two other women had settled with Fox stemming from complaints they voiced to investigators from the law firm Paul, Weiss, Wharton & Garrison, which 21st Century Fox hired to look into the accusations against Ailes.
In its statement, the company apologized for the behavior, saying, “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.”
Ailes resigned from Fox News on July 21, two weeks after Carlson filed her suit. Initial reports that Ailes would pay a portion of the settlement were rebutted by several people familiar with the details, including Susan Estrich, Ailes’ lawyer. “Mr. Ailes is not contributing anything,” Estrich wrote in an email. Additionally, Fox News abruptly announced — just minutes after 21st Century Fox confirmed the settlement with Carlson — the departure of Greta Van Susteren, one of the network’s most recognizable talents. Van Susteren had been with Fox News for 14 years, and her departure was effective immediately. Brit Hume took over her 7 p.m. time slot, beginning Tuesday night. A financial disagreement with the network led to Van Susteren’s exit, according to a person familiar with the situation. Van Susteren was only informed in writing Tuesday of her departure, the person said, and had expected to go on the air Tuesday night.
Her contract was not immediately up for renewal, the person said.
In a Facebook post Tuesday, Van Susteren wrote that she decided to leave the network late last week, saying, “Fox has not felt like home to me for a few years.” She said she “could not wait” because of a time-limited exit clause in her contract.
Van Susteren’s husband, John P. Coale, said in a phone interview Tuesday that his wife exercised what is known as a “key man clause” Friday, which allowed her to leave if Ailes was not in control.
He said, “There’s so much chaos; it’s very hard to work there.” He said the timing of her departure with the announcement of the settlement with Carlson was a “coincidence.”
Asked about why Van Susteren had exercised the key man clause, Coale said, “There’s more than meets the eye” and that there “might be litigation in the future,” so he did not want to talk further.
In a statement, Hume said of taking over Van Susteren’s time slot, “I am happy to take on this assignment for the balance of this extraordinary election.”
Fox News’ co-presidents, Bill Shine and Jack Abernethy, said in a statement, “We are grateful for Greta’s many contributions over the years and wish her continued success.”
No statement was provided by Van Susteren.