Word is that Fox News has paid out millions to former host Melissa Francis as part of a settlement.

Francis filed a complaint with the New York State Department of Labor alleging retaliation by Fox News after she highlighted a gender pay gap at the network.

The Washington Post reported that Fox News paid Francis nearly $15 million bucks to settle her complaint.

Francis alleges that former executive vice president for legal and business affairs Dianne Brandi acknowledged a pay disparity between men and women at Fox News.

“That’s how the world works,” Brandi said, according to Francis. “Women make less. It’s just a fact.”

In a statement to Mediaite, the network vehemently denied Brandi ever said that.

“Melissa Francis’s version of that conversation is untrue and patently absurd – furthermore, it is illogical that anyone with Dianne Brandi’s level of experience in negotiating talent contracts for a living would make such a ludicrous statement,” the Fox News spokesperson said.

Yet they paid Francis millions to settle.

Hmmmmm?

Being a Fox News host pays very well, being a Fox News former host also pays very, very well.

Just ask Bill O'Reilly, Gretchen Carlson, and Melissa Francis.