Suzanne Scott, previously an executive vice president at Fox News, will take over some of the duties of ousted co-president Bill Shine, it was announced today. But Scott has been closely linked to the culture of sexual harassment and abuse at Fox News.
Although Shine was reportedly forced out because the network wanted to demonstrate its commitment to changing the corporate culture fostered by former CEO Roger Ailes (ousted last summer in the wake of an avalanche of sexual harassment accusations), the elevation of Scott to president of programming hardly seems like much of a departure.
Politico noted that two lawsuits against Fox allege that Scott was aware of sexual harassment allegations at Fox News but did not act. CNN’s Tom Kludt noted that Scott is prominently featured in Julie Roginsky’s lawsuit accusing former CEO Roger Ailes of sexual harassment. Among other things, Roginsky alleged that Scott helped recruit Fox employees to retaliate against Gretchen Carlson after she filed her sexual harassment complaint against Ailes.
Andrea Tantaros’ lawsuit actually names Scott as a defendant for improperly responding to complaints of harassment and even retaliating against Tantaros.
A 2016 article in The Daily Beast reported that Scott “enforces with the wardrobe and makeup departments an aesthetic that features skimpy dresses, high-heeled open-toed shoes, and big hair for the channel’s on-air women.”
Scott has also been implicated in the racial discrimination lawsuits against Fox. Media Matters pointed out that “Fox anchor [and plaintiff] Kelly Wright said he reported discrimination and marginalization to Shine, in-house lawyer Dianne Brandi, and Scott, specifically telling them that Fox is ‘too blonde and too White and needs more diversity.' But, according to the suit, the complaints fell ‘on deaf ears,’ and ‘Nothing was ever done to remedy the discrimination.’”
Today, Fox’s Howard Kurtz ridiculously tried to spin Scott’s elevation as “another break with old era.”
Gabriel Sherman set him straight:
Incorrect. Suzanne Scott helped enable Ailes's sexual harassment and misogyny. https://t.co/46YbCC8NWr
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) May 2, 2017
Roger Ailes caricature by DonkeyHotey via Creative Commons license.
