Gretchen Carlson files sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox News CEO Roger Ailes

Gretchen Carlson.
(Image credit: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)

Former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson has filed a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit against the network's chairman and CEO, Roger Ailes. Carlson, a one-time co-host of Fox & Friends, alleges that she was terminated by the network on June 23 — the day her contract expired — because "she refused to sleep with [Ailes] and reported disparaging treatment in the newsroom," a release shared by CNN's Tom Kludt said.

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Carlson was an employee at Fox News for 11 years and, at the time of her termination, her program The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson was the "leading cable news show in its afternoon time slot," the release said.

"I have strived to empower women and girls throughout my entire career," Carlson said in a statement. "Although this was a difficult step to take, I had to stand up for myself and speak out for all women and the next generation of women in the workplace."

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