Gretchen Carlson Of Fox News Sues Roger Ailes For Sexual Harassment

Longtime Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Roger Ailes, the influential Fox News chairman who Carlson said made unwanted sexual advances toward her and then refused to renew her contract after she declined them.

The suit and its claims rocked the TV news world, as the powerful Ailes — who oversaw the network's rise to the provocative conservative powerhouse that it is today — found himself enmeshed in sexual allegations with one of his station's most prominent female anchors, a former Miss America winner.

The civil complaint also characterizes Ailes as a randy TV executive, who would ogle her in his office and make off-color remarks about her appearance in passing.

"I have strived to empower women and girls throughout my entire career," Carlson said in a statement. "Although this was a difficult step to take, I had to stand up for myself and speak out for all women and the next generation of women in the workplace."

In a statement sent to Patch via a Fox News spokeswoman, Ailes called the lawsuit "defamatory."

"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," the statement said. "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."

At the center of the lawsuit, which was filed in Montclair, New Jersey, are claims by Carlson about a meeting last fall between her and Ailes, during which she confronted him about "retaliatory and discriminatory treatment."

She claims in the lawsuit that at that meeting, Ailes told her, “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.” He added, "Sometimes problems are easier to solve that way," the lawsuit says.

After that meeting, Carlson says, her pay was slashed and her appearances on coveted prime-time programs were reduced.

Two weeks ago, on June 23, Carlson's contract was not renewed.

"Ailes has unlawfully retaliated against Carlson and sabatoged her career because she refused his sexual advances and complained about severe pervasive sexual harassment," the lawsuit says.

The complaint also describes remarks of a sexual nature that he would make to her.

He wondered aloud "how anyone could be married to Carlson" and said "if he could choose one person to be stranded with on a desert island, she would be that person," the suit says. Ailes called his own marriage "boring," "hard" and "not much fun," while saying Carlson "can do sweet nothings when you want to," she claims.

Carlson said Ailes called her "sexy" but "too much hard work."

You can read her full complaint below:

Images: Roger Ailes by Sgt. Christopher Tobey, Public Domain; Gretchen Carlson, via Facebook