The Tucker Carlson producer’s discrimination claims go beyond the Dominion scandal
mega jamesMarch 21, 2023
A Fox News producer’s discrimination case against Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Corp. gives a broader understanding of the alleged of the network
cultural problems behind the scenes
,
pointing the finger at a $1.6 billion libel lawsuit, and
dealings with prominent Republicans
and point to a $1.6 billion libel lawsuit
.
Abby Grossberg, who has worked in TV news for two decades, sued Fox, Fox News, Tucker Carlson and several producers late Monday, alleging the network is pervasive with sexist, misogynistic and abusive behavior.
Grossberg’s lawsuit alleges
gender and religion
discrimination based on
gender, religion and disability, as well as discrimination on the basis of disability
. She claims that “constant bullying and gaslighting” caused her “so much stress and anxiety that her stomach ulcers flared up and she was in excruciating pain.”
allegations in T
e 79-page lawsuit filed
Monday
in federal court in New York, raises questions about whether Fox News has sufficiently modernized its work culture
after since prominent
co-founder Roger Ailes was forced to leave in 2016 following allegations of sexual harassment, first leveled by former presenter Gretchen Carlson.
Other other
prominent Fox News figures have since topped the list, including former primetime star Bill O’Reilly and Eric Bolling, a former Fox News specialist host.
“Fox News Media engaged an independent outside consultant to immediately investigate Ms. Grossberg’s concerns, which were raised following a critical performance review,” the network said in a statement.
Those close to Fox News say the network has taken steps to improve its corporate culture, appointing Suzanne Scott as CEO in 2018, the only female executive in the network’s more than 25-year history. They credit her with increasing the number of women on her executive team, including tapping Lauren Petterson to lead Fox Business Network and naming Sharri Berg as president of Fox Weather.
Grossberg’s complaint contains allegations that Fox lawyers pressured her to give misleading testimony in the Dominion Voting System
are
$1.6 billion libel lawsuit.
claims
Fox News strongly denies
her claims
.
The conservative cable news outlet has been accused of knowingly promoting untruths by former President Trump and his surrogates about the 2020
presidential
elections are stolen using Dominion voting machines and software. There was a separate hearing in Delaware on Tuesday to review the merits of that lawsuit.
“Her allegations related to the Dominion case are baseless and we will vigorously defend Fox against all of her claims,” Fox News said in its statement.
Grossberg worked at Fox News for more than three years, first as a
Senior
booking a producer for Maria Bartiromo’s show before moving on to become
a senior producer and
head bookings for
Tucker
Carlson’s popular prime time show
loading
September.
In the lawsuit, Grossberg claims she heard male executives make sexist and disparaging remarks about Bartiromo, including that the financial news anchor was “crazy,” menopausal, hysterical.
,
and a diva.”
A network official reportedly tried to blame Grossberg
Dominion is the $1.6 billion
court case
archived
to Fox News
by Domination
,
claiming that Grossberg would accuse her of doing her
inability to lead a diva
[i.e. Bartiromo]
created liability for the network, resulting in the blockbuster slander
court case
.
In the Dominion case, Bartiromo’s role in promoting untrue allegations of widespread voter fraud has received significant attention.
in her lawsuit
gross mountain
‘s lawsuit
Alleged that a superior then tried to “force” her to spy on Ms. Bartiromo so that Grossberg could “get a clean start” at the network.
The superior was Ralph Giordano, a vice president of news reporting at Fox Business Network.
After less than five months working on Carlson’s show, Grossberg requested a medical leave in mid-January.
In February, on the advice of her therapist, she asked for an extension of her leave. When she reportedly discussed the situation with Thomas Fox, a senior editor-in-chief and a Grossberg superior, she claims she was told they were all under stress. This is Tucker’s tone and just the pace of the show. When she said she discussed the situation with a superior, Thomas Fox, a senior editor, she claimed she was all under stress. This is Tucker’s tone and just the pace of the show. In February, on the advice of her therapist, she asked for an extension of her leave. At a meeting to discuss her legal claims on Monday, Grossberg and her attorney declined to accept a proposed settlement. Fox then sued the producer and placed her on forced administrative leave, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit described how she had started on her first day working for Carlson’s show
loading
September.
She arrived at the office to see “many large and blown-up photos of Nancy Pelosi in a plunging bathing suit revealing her cleavage. The images were pasted on her computer and elsewhere in the office, the lawsuit said.
The former house speaker is 82.
the next day,
according to
the lawsuit
said
called a senior executive producer of Carlson’s program, Justin Wells
Grossbergher
to an office with their supervisor, Alexander McCaskill, present.
Wells would have asked
Grossbergher
an “awkward sexual question about her former boss: ‘Is Maria Bartiromo [sleeping with] Kevin McCarthy?” Shocked, Ms. Grossberg replied “No” and quickly left the room, the lawsuit said.
Tucker Carlson Tonight staff members had frequent group discussions, led by Mr. McCaskill, in which misogynistic views of women as objects should be judged solely on their appearance.
were broadcast
claims Grossberg’s lawsuit.
In these discussions, no woman, whether a Republican politician or a female Fox News staffer, was safe from suddenly becoming the target of sexist, demeaning remarks, the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit pointed to an alleged case in October when Michigan
‘s
Gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon was scheduled to appear as a guest on Carlson’s show.
“For
[Dixon’s] here
arrival, a crude and sexist discussion ensued in the newsroom over whether Ms. Dixon or her opponent, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, was hotter and more [sexually desirable]
fuckable,
the lawsuit said, pointing out that one producer “questioned even the office about their opinion.”
Then Republican Congresswoman Kathryn Cammack
(R-Florida)
appeared on TV in the House in January
F
floor,
Mr
[Alexander]
McCaskill mocked her weight and looks saying she was just as fat as Kelly Clarkson.
according to the lawsuit.
“Such disgusting comments were never made about men appearing on” Carlson’s show, the alleged lawsuit.
Grossberg’s lawsuit also contains snippets of communication between Grossberg and Carlson, which speak of their attempts to secure a gig by
House Speaker Rep.
Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) as he struggled to line up votes to win the speakership
from the house
.
Grossberg wrote that she faced backlash from McCarthy’s staff, who feared he would be pushed back on-air by prominent pollster Frank Luntz.
Rep. McCarthy does [] McCarthy wrote them some, according to the lawsuit
scared, which is ridiculous. If he can’t face you, how is he going to fight Biden and the Dems? After 7 defeats, it can only help him.”
Grossberg would have written.
According to the lawsuit
Mr
Carlson replied, “He’d be a cowardly idiot if he didn’t.” Whatever he may be.
Carlson then continued: I really hope he does [appears on the show]. I’ll be a little mean, because that’s who I am, but I won’t be too mean. I want to help fix this.”
the lawsuit quotes the host.