FNC Playbook: Look for Fox News Talent to Rally Around Roger Ailes
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This was the time when when Fox News boss Roger Ailes was supposed to be gearing up for the Republican convention and planning how FNC would cover it.
But, instead, Ailes is now being sued by former Fox News Anchor Gretchen Carlson for sexual harassment.
Carlson was quietly let go from Fox News late last month when her contract was not renewed. She has now filed a lawsuit against Roger Ailes in New Jersey Superior Court.
Carlson claims, "When she 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. Carlson rebuffed Ailes' sexual demands at that meeting, and nine months later, Ailes ended her career at Fox News."
Carlson says that she complained about the situation at Fox News back in 2009. She says that she complained to a manager that Steve Doocy, one of her co-hosts on Fox & Friends, "had created a hostile work environment by regularly treating her in a sexist and condescending way, including by putting his hand on her and pulling down her arm to shush her during a live telecast."
Carlson accuses Doocy of of "severe and pervasive sexual harassment" off the air and "generally attempting to put her in her place by refusing to accept and treat her as an intelligent and insightful female journalist rather than a blond female prop."
Carlson claims that her complaints about Doocy were not addressed and no action was taken against him.
Ailes responded to her Doocy complaints by calling Carlson a 'man hater' and 'killer' and telling her that she needed to learn to 'get along with the boys,'" states the complaint, which adds that her complaints led to being assigned fewer hard-hitting political interviews.
She says she was fired from Fox & Friends in 2013, and after being reassigned, claims being tormented by Ailes' sexual comments and innuendo. Ailes allegedly told her that she saw everything as if it "only rains on women" and admonished her to stop worrying about equal treatment and getting "offended so God damn easy about everything."
Ailes also ogled Carlson in the office, adds the lawsuit, and "asked her to turn around so he could view her posterior," urging her to wear certain outfits that enhanced her figure.
What is interesting is that Carlson's complaints go back years, but she only filed suit after her contract was not renewed. If it was as bad as she says, doesn't logic say she would have taken action sooner?
Also, if we go by the typical Fox News playbook, look for other on air talent to tweet, post and comment about what a great boss Ailes is. Anytime Ailes has been attacked, his Anchors and hosts have rallied around him. If they don't this time, it could look really bad for the FNC boss.
It appears that both Roger Ailes and Gretchen Carlson have a lot of questions to answer and you can bet that this will be part of the buzz at the GOP convention next month.
