A report in The New York Times indicates that sexual harassment and intimidation at Fox News go beyond the now-ousted CEO, Roger Ailes, and point to “a broader problem in the workplace."
A must-read account in today’s New York Times details the accusations of Rudi Bakhtiar, a former Fox News correspondent, who alleges that in 2007, a plum position in Washington was offered to her along with a request by Fox’s soon-to-become Washington bureau chief, Brian Wilson, that she show him “the inside of your hotel room.” When Bakhiar turned him down, she was soon removed from her Washington assignments, told to report the matter to human resources and then fired.
But The Times suggests Bakhtiar was far from an anomaly:
The investigation by Fox News’s parent company, 21st Century Fox, focused narrowly on Mr. Ailes. But in interviews with The New York Times, current and former employees described instances of harassment and intimidation that went beyond Mr. Ailes and suggested a broader problem in the workplace.
The Times spoke with about a dozen women who said they had experienced some form of sexual harassment or intimidation at Fox News or the Fox Business Network, and half a dozen more who said they had witnessed it. Two of them cited Mr. Ailes and the rest cited other supervisors. With the exception of Ms. Bakhtiar, they all spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing embarrassment and fear of retribution. Most continue to work in television and worry that speaking out could damage their careers.
They told of strikingly similar experiences at Fox News. Several said that inappropriate comments about a woman’s appearance and sex life were frequent. Managers tried to set up their employees on dates with superiors.
[…]
One woman who is still there said that a producer of a show on which she frequently appeared persuaded her to go on dates with him. When she decided after two uneventful outings that she had had enough, he ceased to have her on his show, she said.
One former Fox News staff member described walking into a dark office in 2009 to find a senior manager receiving oral sex from a junior employee.
New York magazine’s Gabriel Sherman has more details about how, even now, Fox is fighting to cover up Bakhtiar’s accusations.
The big question at this point is not how many more women are going to come forward but how far this contagion will spread and whether parent company 21st Century Fox will feel compelled to do some extensive housecleaning.
Photo of Roger Ailes by Sgt. Christopher Tobey via Wikimedia Commons.
Trust us! More and more women are coming forward. It WILL get worse for the Trainee. We know this for a fact. Sit back and watch the Trainee train wreck.
The Trainee won’t be the only one ousted from Fox “News.” Other Fox “News” frauds are on the hit list. Watch for resignations to follow.
Coming down the pipeline:
1. Bye Shine!
2. Bye Doocy!
3. Fox “News” house cleaning in September
4. Organizations distance themselves from Fox talent.
5. Fin Fin needs to go!
6. The scandal hits the Washington Bureau.
7. Greta is a sellout.
8. Bye Billy!
9. Hannocchio’s name comes up.
10. Advertisers flee.
11. Here comes the resignations.
12. GOP distance themselves from Nixon Trainee Ailes and Fox “News.”
Fox “News” violates 21st Century Fox Standards of Business Conduct. The guilty parties are still employed. All of them will be named.
NOTE TO MURDOCHS/21st CENTURY FOX
You have violators of this policy still working at Fox “News” Channel. You know who they are. Get rid of them now! Or we will continue to plaster this policy to all social and global media every week. Uphold this policy and immediately remove the sexual predators at Fox “News” Channel.
21st Century Fox Standards Of Business Conduct
“Non-Discrimination: We make all employment related decisions (hiring, promotion, compensation, etc.) without unlawful regard to a person’s race, color, religion, age, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, military or veteran’s status, marital status or any other characteristic prohibited from consideration by the laws of the countries, states and cities in which we do business.
Harrassment-Free: We endeavor to ensure that the workplace is free of bullying and unlawful harassment, whether that harassment is sexual in nature, or is based on an employee’s sex, race, religion or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. It is our policy to investigate promptly and thoroughly any 21CF colleague complaint of discrimination or harassment, and to take remedial measures, if the Company determines that there has been a violation of the Company’s policy against such conduct.
Respect President Obama? Nahhhh!!
Obey sexual harassment laws? Nahhhh!!!
Faux better watch out. A new broom sweeps clean. James and Lachlan might have better ideas about running a network that just entertains fossilised old farts.
