Fox News calls Tantaros ‘opportunist,’ not victim
Network says latest sexual harassment complaint is baseless
Fox News responded to sexual harassment charges levied against the network by former Fox News host Andrea Tantaros by arguing in a court filing the broadcaster is “not a victim” but rather “an opportunist.”
Tantaros last week filed her lawsuit against the network, former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes and other Fox executives.
The charges came in the wake of a suit filed in July by former Fox News broadcaster Gretchen Carlson, who alleged 76-year-old Ailes decided not to renew her contract after she refused to have sex with him. Carlson also claimed Ailes ignored her reports of “disparaging treatment in the newsroom.”
Ailes, who has denied the charges, stepped down July 22 and left the conservative-leaning network with a $40 million severance package.
In her own suit, Tantaros said, “Fox News masquerades as defender of traditional family values, but behind the scenes, it operates like a sex-fueled, Play- boy Mansionlike cult, steeped in intimidation, indecency and misogyny.” Her suit claims Ailes allegedly asked her for a hug and told her to “turn around so I can get a good look at you.” She also said her former boss commented that Tantaros would “look good in a bikini” and asked about the sexual relationships of other Fox News employees.
Fox News Co-President Bill Shine, communications chief Irena Briganti, general counsel Dianne Brandi and executive vice president of programming and development Suzanne Scott also were named in Tantaros’ suit.
In its formal response, which named all defendants but Ailes, Fox called the Tantaros complaint baseless and said she “had all the hallmarks of the ‘wannabe.’ ” (Ailes’ attorney filed a separate motion saying the complaint was full of “lies and half truths.”) Fox also indicated Tantaros was suspended months ago by Fox News for breaching her employment agreement by writing an unauthorized book. The company and Ailes are seeking to resolve the dispute through arbitration rather than the courts.
“Over the last few weeks, 21st Century Fox (Fox News’ parent company) has made clear its commitment to providing a safe and dignified workplace at Fox News: by immediately launching an investigation in which women were encouraged to report their experiences under conditions of confidentiality, and by committing to make things right with those women who were not treated with the respect that they and every employee deserve,” the filing read. “But Tantaros is not a victim; she is an opportunist.”
In an email sent to USA TODAY, Tantaros’ attorney, Judd Burstein, responded, “Fox News has all but acknowledged that Roger Ailes did sexually harass Andrea Tantaros because its lawyers are representing every defendant in the suit other than Roger Ailes. If Mr. Ailes were innocent, Fox News would also be defending him. Instead, they have dropped him like the proverbial hot potato in the hope that his former cabal members can continue in place.”
Burstein also questioned why the Fox defendants are seeking arbitration: “Why do they want this dispute to be resolved in the shadows? An innocent person would be so outraged that he or she would want public vindication.” And he challenged Fox to accept Tantaros’ willingness to take a lie-detector test.