Fox News host Andrea Tantaros disappeared from the network earlier this year, sparking concerns as to her professional whereabouts.
At first, Fox News said it was because of a contract issue over her book:
Issues have arisen regarding Andrea’s contract, and Fox News Channel has determined it best that she take some time off. She is still under contract with the network.”
But after Gretchen Carlson’s lawsuit succeeded in getting Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes to resign, Andrea Tantaros came forward with a story of her own:
According to Tantaros’s account, Ailes began harassing her on August 12, 2014. During a meeting in Ailes’s office, Ailes allegedly asked Tantaros to do “the twirl” so he could see her figure. She refused. Then, in mid-December of that year, Ailes made another advance, Burstein says. “Ailes asked her to turn around, and then he said, ‘Come over here so I can give you a hug.’” Tantaros rebuffed the advance, Burstein says.
Now she’s taken a bigger step, suing Fox News.
Image Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
In a lawsuit filed Monday and first published by The New York Times, Andrea Tantaros writes:
“Fox News masquerades as a defender of traditional family values, but behind the scenes, it operates like a sex-fueled, Playboy Mansion-like cult, steeped in intimidation, indecency and misogyny.”
Tantaros also claims that:
- Bill O’Reilly allegedly subjected her to unwelcome advances
- Top Fox News staffers allegedly “condoned” the actions of Ailes
- Fox News PR allegedly created fake social media accounts to attack her
The New York Times also had this tidbit:
In April 2015, the lawsuit states, Ms. Tantaros met with Bill Shine, then a senior news executive and close aide to Mr. Ailes. She said that she told him about the meetings with Mr. Ailes and asked if he had told the head of publicity for Fox News, Irena Briganti, to go after her.
The lawsuit claims that Mr. Shine “told Tantaros that Briganti is like a rabid dog on a chain that we can’t control. Sometimes that dog gets off the chain.” Then, pointing to a picture of Mr. Ailes on a magazine cover, the lawsuit charges, Mr. Shine told her that “this powerful man has faith in Irena Briganti” and that Ms. Tantaros “needs to let this one go.”
Independent Journal Review has reached out to Fox News for comment, and will add it in this space if we hear back.