Former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson has reached a detente of sorts with the network’s parent over charges she was sexually harassed by Roger Ailes, the cable-news network’s former leader and guiding light.
The media conglomerate, controlled by the Murdoch family, said it had reached a settlement with Carlson, who anchored such programs as Fox & Friends and The Real Story during her time at the outlet. A report in Vanity Fair suggested the amount could total as much as $20 million, and a person familiar with the matter said the report was accurate. A spokesman for Carlson’s attorneys, declined to comment.
According to the Vanity Fair story, it’s also widely expected that Ailes will offer Carlson an unprecedented apology.
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“21st Century Fox is pleased to announce that it has settled Gretchen Carlson’s lawsuit. During her tenure at Fox News, Gretchen exhibited the highest standards of journalism and professionalism. 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,” the company said in a statement. “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.”
The settlement appears to close at least one of the many storylines related to the behaviour of Ailes, who was the subject of a lawsuit Carlson filed in July alleging the executive subjected her to sexual come-ons and other inappropriate advances.
Her suit sparked an internal investigation at the news outlet, which is the most-watched cable-news network, where other women are said to have come forward alleging sexual harassment by Ailes.
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Rupert Murdoch, executive chairman of 21st Century Fox, has stepped in to lead Fox News on an interim basis and Bill Shine and Jack Abernethy, two veteran Fox TV executives, were recently named co-presidents and will lead Fox News and Fox Business.
“I am gratified that 21st Century Fox took decisive action after I filed my complaint,” Carlson previously said in a statement. “I’m ready to move on to the next chapter of my life.”
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