Scandals
A Fox News producer filed a discrimination suit against Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Corp. to reveal the network’s alleged cultural problems and dealings with prominent Republicans. It also shows finger-pointing after a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit.
Abby Grossberg, a TV news journalist for over 20 years, sued Fox News, Tucker Carlson, Fox News and other producers late Monday. Grossberg claimed that Fox News and Tucker Carlson are rife in sexist, misogynistic, and abusive behavior.
Grossberg’s lawsuit claims discrimination based upon gender, religion, and disability. Grossberg claims that she was subject to constant bullying and gaslighting, which caused her to feel so stressed and anxious that her stomach ulcers flared and she was in severe pain.
The lawsuit, which is 79 pages long, was filed in New York federal court. It raises questions about Fox News’ ability to modernize its workplace culture after Roger Ailes, co-founder, was fired in 2016. This followed allegations of sexual harassment first raised by Gretchen Carlson, former anchor.
Other prominent Fox News figures have been toppled since then, including Bill O’Reilly, an ex-prime-time star, and Eric Bolling (a former host of Fox News Specialists).
“Fox News Media hired an independent counsel to investigate the concerns raised in Ms. Grossberg’s resignation following a critical performance review,” the network stated in a statement.
Fox News sources say that the network has taken steps to improve its corporate culture. In 2018, Suzanne Scott was appointed chief executive — the first female chief executive in Fox News’s more than 25 year history. They attribute her to increasing the number of women in her executive team.
Grossberg’s complaint alleges that Fox lawyers forced her to give misleading testimony in Dominion Voting Systems’ $1.6-billion defamation suit. Fox News vigorously denies Grossberg’s claims.
Former President Trump and his surrogates have accused the conservative cable news channel of informing falsehoods about 2020 election theft using Dominion voting machines, software, and other means. To determine the merits of this lawsuit, a separate hearing was held in Delaware on Tuesday.
Fox News stated in its statement that “her allegations in connection to the Dominion case were baseless” and that it would vigorously defend Fox against any legal claims she makes.
Grossberg was with Fox News for more three years. She started as a senior bookings producer for Maria Bartiromo’s program, before moving to become a senior producer for Tucker Carlson’s prime-time show in September. (She claimed that she was “unknowingly demoted” from her senior producer position in November.
Grossberg claims that she was made sexist and demeaning comments by male executives about Bartiromo in the lawsuit. Grossberg claimed that they said that Bartiromo was “crazy”, “menopausal,” and “hysterical” while Grossberg was a financial news anchor.
Grossberg was allegedly blamed by a network official for Dominion’s lawsuit against Fox News. She claimed that Grossberg’s “inability to manage a divas” was the reason. [i.e. Bartiromo]” created liability for network, which resulted into the blockbuster defamation litigation.
The role of Bartiromo in promoting false claims of widespread voter fraud was much scrutinized in the Dominion case. Grossberg’s lawsuit claimed that Ralph Giordano (a vice president of Fox Business Network news coverage) tried to “coerce” Grossberg into spying on Ms. Bartiromo so that Grossberg could “make a clean start” at Fox Business Network.
Grossberg requested medical leave in January after he had worked less than five months on Carlson’s show.
She claimed that Thomas Fox, her superior and senior editorial producer, told her, “We’re all under pressure.” This is Tucker’s tone, and it’s the show’s pace.
She requested that her leave be extended in February on the advice of her therapist.
Grossberg and her lawyer refused to accept a settlement proposal during a meeting earlier this week to discuss her legal claims. According to the lawsuit, Fox sued Grossberg and placed her on “forced administration leave.” Fox has since withdrawn its lawsuit.
In the lawsuit, she described how she was shocked to work for Carlson’s September show on her first day.
She came to the office to see “many large, blown-up photos of Nancy Pelosi wearing a plunging bathing costume that revealed her cleavage.” According to the lawsuit, the images were “stickered onto her computer and other areas throughout the office.”
According to the lawsuit, Justin Wells, a senior executive producer for Carlson’s program, called Grossberg in the next day with Alexander McCaskill as his colleague.
Grossberg was allegedly asked by Wells “uncomfortable” sexual questions about her ex-boss: “Is Maria Bartiromo?” [sleeping with] Kevin McCarthy?” Shocked, Ms. Grossberg responded ‘No’ and quickly left the room,” the lawsuit stated.
Grossberg claims that staff members of “Tucker Carlson Tonight” had “frequently participated in group discussions, led Mr. McCaskill in which misogynistic views about women as objects to judge solely on their appearance were broadcast.”
The lawsuit stated that “In these conversations, no woman, regardless of whether she was a Republican politician, or a Fox News female staffer, was safe from suddenly becoming a target of sexist and demeaning comments.”
Tucker Carlson, Fox News host, is pictured here in 2018 in his studio. He was named as a defendant by a producer who filed a lawsuit against him.
(Jennifer S. Altman/For The Times
The lawsuit referred to an alleged October instance, when Tudor Dixon, Michigan’s gubernatorial candidate, was scheduled to appear on Carlson’s show.
“Before [Dixon’s] Arrival, there was a heated and sexist discussion in our newsroom about whether Ms. Dixon or Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was ‘hotter than ever’ [sexually desirable]According to the lawsuit, a producer had “even polled the office about their views.”
“Mr. McCaskill mocked her appearance and weight by saying she was ‘fatlike Kelly Clarkson’,” according to the lawsuit.
According to the lawsuit, “Such disgusting comments were never made about men appearing” on Carlson’s show.”
McCaskill allegedly commented that Fox News’ “mother’s room”, where employees could breastfeed, was a “waste” and suggested that the space be converted into a “room with tanning beds for the men to tan their testicles.” This is a reference to a Carlson segment on ways men can boost their testosterone levels.
Grossberg’s lawsuit also contains fragments of communications between Carlson and Grossberg, discussing her attempts to secure an appearance from Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R. Bakersfield), when he was trying to get votes to win the Speakership of the House.
Grossberg stated that McCarthy’s staff were reticent about Grossberg’s participation, fearful that Frank Luntz, a prominent pollster, would push back on Grossberg.
According to the lawsuit, McCarthy wrote that he was afraid of McCarthy. How is he going against Biden and the Dems if he can’t face him? It can only help him after 7 losses.”
According to the lawsuit Carlson replied that he would be a cowardly idiot to not. He may be.
Carlson continued, “I really hope that he [appears on the show]. Because that’s me, I’ll be a little mean. But I won’t be overly mean. “I want to fix this.”
