Former Fox “News” Host Andrea Tantaros Sues for Sexual Harrassment
Andrea Tantaros, a Fox News broadcaster, has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox News, former CEO Roger Ailes and other Fox executives, another highly charged legal challenge for the conservative-leaning news network as it seeks to get past a turbulent management change triggered by a similar case.
“Fox News masquerades as defender of traditional family values, but behind the scenes, it operates like a sex-fueled, Playboy Mansion-like cult, steeped in intimidation, indecency, and misogyny,” said her lawsuit, filed Monday in New York Supreme Court in New York County.
The lawsuit, whose defendants include Fox News co-president Bill Shine, communications chief Irena Briganti, general counsel Dianne Brandi and Suzanne Scott, executive vice president of programming and development, comes two weeks after Tantaros made her allegations in an article in New York magazine.
Fox News said it doesn’t comment on pending litigation. Ailes’ lawyer, Susan Estrich, couldn’t be reached for comment.
In early July, former Fox News broadcaster Gretchen Carlson sued Ailes for sexual harassment, claiming the 76-year old executive decided not to renew her contract after she refused to sleep with him. She also alleged Ailes ignored her reports of “disparaging treatment in the newsroom.”
Ailes has denied the allegations. After an internal investigation by 21st Century Fox, the parent of Fox News, Ailes stepped down July 22 and left the company with a $40 million severance package. Carlson’s lawsuit, filed only against Ailes, is ongoing.