Ailes: Carlson’s Sex Harassment Allegations ‘Without Merit,’ ‘Retaliatory’

Roger Ailes, Chairman and CEO of Fox News, “vigorously” denied the bombshell sexual harassment allegations laid out in a lawsuit filed Wednesday by former top anchor Gretchen Carlson.

“Gretchen Carlson’s allegations are false,” Ailes said in a statement released late Wednesday. “This is a retaliatory suit for the network’s decision not to renew her contract, which was due to the fact that her disappointingly low ratings were dragging down the afternoon lineup. When Fox News did not commence any negotiations to renew her contract, Ms. Carlson became aware that her career with the network was likely over and conveniently began to pursue a lawsuit.”

“Ironically, FOX News provided her with more on-air opportunities over her 11 year tenure than any other employer in the industry, for which she thanked me in her recent book,” he went on. “This defamatory lawsuit is not only offensive, it is wholly without merit and will be defended vigorously.”

Fox terminated its contract with Carlson, who started at the network in 2005, on June 23, 2016. In her lawsuit, she alleges that her dismissal was the result of her ongoing refusal of Ailes’ sexual advances and open criticism of the “pervasive” culture of sexism at the news network.

Carlson claims that Ailes demoted her and reduced her compensation when she spoke out against the boys’ club culture promoted by her colleagues and rebuffed his verbal come-ons.

The suit notes that Carlson’s show “consistently ranked number one among cable news programs in her time slot.” According to Carlson, “this success shows that there was no legitimate business reason for terminating Ms. Carlson.”

CNN Money reported that the ratings for Carlson’s “The Real Story” were recently falling behind those for CNN’s 2-3 p.m. programming in the critical 25- to 54-year-old demographic.