In a new lawsuit filed against Fox News’ parent company, a local Fox reporter alleges Roger Ailes sexually harassed her and refused her a job at Fox News because she was too “nice” to put out.
Local New York reporter Lidia Curanaj has filed a suit accusing her employer of discrimination and providing a hostile work environment. She claims that the climate of sexual harassment that has been exposed at Fox News has also filtered down to the local WYNW newsroom where she works. But before Curanaj got to WYNW, she interviewed with Ailes.
Ailes is not named as a defendant in the suit. But the details in Curanaj’s complaint about her encounter with Ailes are pretty jaw-dropping, even for someone who has heard a lot about his predatory behavior. After meeting Ailes at a dinner she attended with New York State Senator Gregory R. Ball, Curanaj had a “private interview” with him at Fox News. From the complaint (via the New York Times):
25. During this private interview, Ailes insisted that Ms. Curanaj sit directly next to him on a couch in his office.
26. Ailes launched into a tirade about President Barack Obama, insisting that President Obama is a Muslim who had “ulterior motives” and was “working with the terrorists.”
27. Ailes then shifted the discussion to explain what he described as FNC’s “recipe for success.” Specifically, Ailes told Ms. Curanaj that he always made sure that the women on FNC were shown “from the feet up,” meaning that their legs would be visible to the television audience. Ailes stated that, for this reason, it is “important [for female talent] to look good from head to toe.”
28. Ailes then asked Ms. Curanaj to stand up and “turn around” so that he could “see [her] from behind.” This, of course, made Ms. Curanaj extremely uncomfortable, but, as requested, she stood up, quickly twirled around and sat back down.
29. Ailes leered at her and commented, “I like what I see.”
[…]
31. Following Ms. Curanaj’s private interview, Ailes reached out to Senator Ball, who had previously dated Ms. Curanaj.
32. Ailes did not ask Senator Ball about Ms. Curanaj’s professional talents, abilities or qualifications.
33. Instead, Ailes asked Senator Ball whether Ms. Curanaj “put out,” sexually.
34. To be clear, Ailes also asked Senator Ball, “how’s the sex,” in reference to Ms.Curanaj.
35. Senator Ball told Ailes that Ms. Curanaj was a “very nice girl,” implying that she would not “put out” for Ailes. Shortly thereafter, Ailes called Ms. Curanaj and told her that he did not believe she was “ready” for FNC and suggested that she reach out to Fox’s local stations instead.
Let’s not forget that Ailes is or was a good friend of “Grab them by the p***y” Donald Trump.
Roger Ailes caricature by DonkeyHotey via Creative Commons license.
