Gretchen Carlson On Sexual Violence: 'It's Not A Partisan Issue, It's A Cultural One'
As more and more people accuse men in power of sexual harassment and sexual assault, Gretchen Carlson ― whose allegations against former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes cemented her as one of the issue’s leading voices ― has written a powerful essay about how the issue is not merely a political or partisan one.
In the essay, published on Tuesday in Lenny Letter, Carlson wrote, “this is not a partisan issue, it’s a cultural one.”
“Boorish behavior transcends ideology and political lines, despite the fact that there are many who seek to blame Democrats for Harvey Weinstein’s behavior or Republicans for Bill O’Reilly’s,” she continued. “It is not liberal to ask for a workplace where you are not fondled or groped. It’s not conservative to expect to meet with a man without having him dangle his hotel key or ask you to sit on his lap while he has an erection.”
Carlson, whose book on the issue of workplace harassment and assault was released last month, also wrote about the importance of turning outrage into action with bipartisan legislation.
“I’m working with both parties to craft a bipartisan bill to take the secrecy out of sexual-harassment cases where women in the workplace have been forced to sign mandatory arbitration clauses,” she wrote.
Since speaking out in June 2016 with allegations of sexual harassment against Roger Ailes (who died in May at the age of 77), Carlson has worked with Democrat Senators to testify against mandatory arbitration laws that force victims of workplace harassment or assault into closed-door settlements that very rarely go in favor of the victim, and that also force victims into silence. Carlson has been a vocal supporter of the Arbitration Fairness Act of 2017 that was introduced by Democrats back in March ― and she’s pushing to get Republicans to support the Act as well.
“How ironic would it be if the Arbitration Fairness Act ended up on President Trump’s desk?” she wrote.
Ultimately, Carlson emphasized the importance of women coming together ― regardless of political affiliation or professional industry ― to change the culture of pervasive sexual harassment and violence in this country.
“I’m proud my case last year helped chart a course for the brave women who are now standing up and speaking out,” she wrote.
“Now our challenge is to speak up together. To sustain the public’s focus on harassment, women must put aside our differences and collectively demand our basic rights. Change is possible.”
Head over to Lenny Letter to read the full essay.
Need help? Visit RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website.
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Gretchen Carlson
Ailes' response: The same day Carlson filed her lawsuit, Ailes released the below statement:
"Gretchen Carlson’s allegations are false. This is a retaliatory suit for the network’s decision not to renew her contract, which was due to the fact that her disappointingly low ratings were dragging down the afternoon lineup. When Fox News did not commence any negotiations to renew her contract, Ms. Carlson became aware that her career with the network was likely over and conveniently began to pursue a lawsuit. Ironically, Fox News provided her with more on-air opportunities over her 11 year tenure than any other employer in the industry, for which she thanked me in her recent book. This defamatory lawsuit is not only offensive, it is wholly without merit and will be defended vigorously.”
When we found out: July 6, 2016
When she says it happened: 2005 - 2016
Marsha Callahan
Ailes’ response: Although Ailes did not publicly comment on Boyle’s accusation, his lawyer Barry Asen released a statement. Asen blamed Carlson's initial accusations for these new allegations: “It has become obvious that Ms. Carlson and her lawyer are desperately attempting to litigate this in the press because they have no legal case to argue. The latest allegations, all 30 to 50 years old, are false.”
When we found out: July 9, 2016
When she says it happened: 1967 or 1968
Megyn Kelly
![<strong>Her account: </strong>Directly after Carlson’s accusations came to light, <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/07/14/fox-colleagues-mad-that-megyn-kelly-isn-t-speaking-up-for-roger-ailes">Kelly allegedly told 21st Century Fox</a> investigators that Ailes made unwanted sexual advances when she was just starting out as a correspondent for Fox 10 years prior. In her recent memoir, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/megyn-kelly-roger-ailes-harassment_us_581b4fa2e4b08f9841adb05e">Kelly wrote</a> that Ailes made inappropriate advances, commenting on her “very sexy bras” and “how he’d like to see [her] in them.” He also tried to grab and kiss her, and later threatened to fire her if she did not comply. <br /><br /><strong>Ailes' response: </strong>“I categorically deny the allegations Megyn Kelly makes about me. I worked tirelessly to promote and advance her career, as Megyn herself admitted to Charlie Rose. Watch that interview and then decide for yourself,” Ailes said in a <a href="http://people.com/tv/roger-ailes-denies-megyn-kelly-sexual-harassment-allegations-statement/">statement to People Magazine</a> on November 15, 2016. “My attorneys have restricted me from commenting further -- so suffice it to say that no good deed goes unpunished.”<br /><br /><strong>When we found out: </strong>Initial accusations on July 19, 2016; details from her book on November 3, 2016<br /><br /><strong>When she says it happened: </strong>2005 - 2006](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/5pM60beUFdVONfcRqDShpg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MA--/https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/591dabf9270000520090ead7.jpg)
Ailes' response: “I categorically deny the allegations Megyn Kelly makes about me. I worked tirelessly to promote and advance her career, as Megyn herself admitted to Charlie Rose. Watch that interview and then decide for yourself,” Ailes said in a statement to People Magazine on November 15, 2016. “My attorneys have restricted me from commenting further -- so suffice it to say that no good deed goes unpunished.”
When we found out: Initial accusations on July 19, 2016; details from her book on November 3, 2016
When she says it happened: 2005 - 2006
Rudi Bakhtiar
Ailes’ response: None from Ailes, Fox News or parent company 21st Century Fox.
When we found out: July 23, 2016
When she says it happened: 2007
Laurie Luhn
Ailes’ response: “Ms. Luhn is someone I once regarded as a friend and a person who I helped for many years,” Ailes wrote in a statement to ABC News in November 18, 2016. “The stories she is telling now are fabrications built on half-truths and outright lies, and I can only assume are opportunistically intended to thrust her back into the limelight at my expense.”
When we found out: July 29, 2016
When she says it happened: 1996 - 2016
Laurie Dhue
Ailes’ response: No public response.
When we found out: August 2, 2016
When she says it happened: Sometime during her tenure at Fox News between 2000 and 2008.
Andrea Tantaros
Ailes’ response: While Ailes did not publicly comment on the accusations, Fox News’ lawyers called Tantaros an “opportunist” and said her lawsuit “bears all the hallmarks of the ‘wannabe.’”
When we found out: August 8, 2016
When she says it happened: 2014 - 2016
Shelley Ross
Ailes’ response: None.
When we found out: August 8, 2016
When she says it happened: 1981
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