Gretchen Carlson accuses Fox News chair and co-host of sexual harassment

ByDarren O

RogerAilesGretchenCarlson

Former Miss America and long-time Fox News host Gretchen Carlson has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox News chairman Roger Ailes.

In the lawsuit, filed Wednesday, Carlson claims that Ailes fired her from the network last month after she refused a number of sexual advances from him and complained about being treated unfairly in the newsroom.

The complaint filed by Carlson reads in part:

Ailes has unlawfully retaliated against Carlson and sabotaged her career because she refused his sexual advances and complained about severe and pervasive sexual harassment… When Carlson met with Ailes to discuss the discriminatory treatment to which she was being subjected, Ailes stated: ‘I think you and I should have had a sexual relationship a long time ago and then you’d be good and better and I’d be good and better,’ adding that ‘sometimes problems are easier to solve’ that way.

In her memoir, Getting Real, Carlson talked openly about being the victim of sexual assault on two previous separate occasion, both of which took place while she tried to parlay her Miss America crown into a successful career.

Carlson singled out Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy of engaging in what she called “severe and pervasive sexual harassment.” She said that when she approached Ailes about this in 2009, he called her a “man hater,” adding that Carlson should “get along with the boys.”

Carlson is seeking compensatory damages, damages for mental anguish, punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees.

Image: Splash News / Facebook


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