Gretchen Carlson settles her harassment suit; amount is reportedly $20M
Former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson has settled her sexual harassment lawsuit, according to a statement by 21st Century Fox.
The announcement did not include the amount of the settlement, but unnamed sources told the New York Times and Vanity Fair that it was $20 million. Former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes will pay part of the settlement, the sources said. The Hollywood Reporter’s THR, Esq. blog also has a story.
Carlson had sued Ailes but not Fox News, which was picking up Ailes’ legal costs, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Carlson has filed paperwork to dismiss the suit against Ailes, the THR story reports. The settlement reportedly provides that Carlson won’t sue Fox News or other Fox executives.
The Fox News statement, issued on Tuesday, included an apology. “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 statement said.
Fox News had hired the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison to conduct an internal investigation, which was said to have turned up allegations of sexual harassment by other women at Fox News.
Carlson also released a statement that said she was gratified by the “decisive action” by Fox. “I’m ready to move on to the next chapter of my life in which I will redouble my efforts to empower women in the workplace,” she said.
