Fox News
Sexual harassment suits that ended the careers of Roger Ailes and Bill O'Reilly and led to settlements and workplace reforms at Fox.
33 developments, 2016–2025, oldest first.
2016
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Gretchen Carlson sues Fox News chief Roger Ailes for sexual harassment
Former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson filed suit alleging that chairman Roger Ailes sexually harassed her and ended her contract after she rebuffed him. Ailes denied the allegations.
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Megyn Kelly reportedly told Fox investigators that Ailes harassed her
Reports said anchor Megyn Kelly told the outside law firm reviewing Carlson's claims that Ailes had made unwanted advances toward her years earlier.
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Roger Ailes resigns as Fox News chairman amid harassment claims
Ailes stepped down as chairman and CEO of Fox News after an internal investigation into harassment allegations, with Rupert Murdoch taking over as acting chief.
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Former Fox booker says Ailes harassed her for two decades
A former Fox News booker told New York magazine that Ailes harassed and psychologically controlled her for about 20 years and that the network helped conceal it.
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Former Fox host Andrea Tantaros sues network over alleged harassment and retaliation
Former host Andrea Tantaros sued Fox News, Ailes and other executives, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation after she complained. Fox denied the claims.
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Fox News pays Gretchen Carlson $20 million to settle harassment suit
21st Century Fox settled Carlson's lawsuit for a reported $20 million and issued a public apology, an unusual step for the company.
2017
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Federal prosecutors investigate Fox News over Ailes-era settlement payments
The U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan was reported to be examining whether Fox News properly disclosed harassment settlement payments to investors.
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Times report finds $13 million in settlements tied to Bill O'Reilly
A New York Times investigation found that O'Reilly or Fox had paid about $13 million to settle claims from five women accusing him of harassment or inappropriate behavior. O'Reilly denied wrongdoing.
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Advertisers pull ads from The O'Reilly Factor after harassment settlement report
Mercedes-Benz and other brands pulled advertising from Bill O'Reilly's show after reporting on settlements paid over harassment claims against him. O'Reilly denied the allegations.
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Wave of advertisers abandons O'Reilly's Fox News show
Dozens of companies said they were cancelling or suspending ads on The O'Reilly Factor as the boycott over harassment settlements widened.
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Bill O'Reilly ousted from Fox News after harassment allegations
21st Century Fox ended O'Reilly's tenure after a review of harassment allegations and an advertiser exodus from his top-rated show.
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Federal probe of Fox News expands to include postal inspectors
The Justice Department inquiry into Fox News was reported to have broadened beyond Ailes-era harassment settlements, with Postal Inspection Service financial investigators involved.
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Fox News co-president Bill Shine resigns amid scrutiny of harassment handling
Shine, a longtime Ailes deputy criticized in lawsuits for his handling of harassment complaints, resigned as co-president of Fox News.
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Former Fox News chairman Roger Ailes dies at 77
Ailes died less than a year after his ouster over harassment allegations, which he had denied; several related lawsuits remained pending.
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Fox Business suspends host Charles Payne over harassment allegation
Fox Business Network suspended anchor Charles Payne while it investigated a sexual harassment allegation from a former political commentator. Payne acknowledged a past affair but denied harassment.
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Fox News suspends host Eric Bolling over alleged lewd messages
Fox suspended Bolling pending an investigation into a report that he sent an explicit photo to female colleagues. Bolling denied the allegation.
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Eric Bolling leaves Fox News after harassment investigation
Fox News and Bolling agreed to part ways following the network's investigation into the allegations against him.
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Commentator Scottie Nell Hughes sues Fox, alleging rape by host Charles Payne
Political commentator Scottie Nell Hughes sued Fox News alleging Fox Business host Charles Payne sexually assaulted her and the network retaliated after she ended their relationship. Payne denied the allegations.
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Report: O'Reilly settled analyst's harassment claim for $32 million before contract renewal
The Times reported O'Reilly paid about $32 million in January 2017 to settle claims by a longtime Fox legal analyst, and that Fox renewed his contract weeks later knowing of the deal.
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21st Century Fox agrees to $90 million shareholder settlement and workplace council
Fox settled a shareholder derivative suit over board oversight of harassment for $90 million and agreed to create a Fox News Workplace Professionalism and Inclusion Council.
2018
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Fox News pays $10 million to settle 18 discrimination and harassment suits
Fox News paid about $10 million to resolve 18 race and gender discrimination claims brought by current and former employees.
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Former Fox executive Bill Shine named White House communications chief
Shine, who left Fox amid criticism of how he handled harassment complaints under Ailes, was appointed to a senior White House communications post.
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Fox settles remaining claims in Scottie Nell Hughes retaliation suit
Hughes settled her remaining retaliation claims with Fox for an undisclosed amount after a judge earlier dismissed her assault claim and other counts.
2019
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Fox Nation host Britt McHenry sues Fox alleging harassment by co-host
Fox Nation host Britt McHenry sued Fox News alleging sexual harassment by co-host George 'Tyrus' Murdoch and retaliation; Fox and Murdoch disputed the claims.
2020
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Fox News fires anchor Ed Henry after sexual misconduct complaint
Fox fired America's Newsroom co-anchor Ed Henry after an investigation into a former employee's complaint of willful sexual misconduct years earlier.
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Lawsuit accuses Ed Henry of rape and names other Fox hosts in harassment claims
A former Fox Business associate producer sued alleging Henry sexually assaulted her, and a former guest commentator joined with harassment claims against several hosts. Henry and Fox denied the allegations.
2021
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New York City fines Fox News $1 million over harassment and retaliation
The NYC Commission on Human Rights fined Fox News $1 million, its largest such penalty, and required policy changes after finding harassment and retaliation violations.
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Fox Business producer sues alleging unwanted advances by Andrew Napolitano
An associate producer sued Fox News alleging unwanted advances by legal analyst Andrew Napolitano and a dismissive response from management. Fox said it took action on the Napolitano complaint and called other claims baseless.
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Judge lets sex-trafficking and assault claims against Ed Henry proceed
A federal judge in Manhattan declined to dismiss key claims in the lawsuit against Henry, including sex-trafficking allegations, and allowed some claims against Fox to continue.
2022
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Ending forced arbitration for harassment claims signed into law, backed by Gretchen Carlson
President Biden signed a law barring mandatory arbitration of sexual assault and harassment claims; Carlson, whose Fox contract had an arbitration clause, championed the bill.
2023
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Fox pays $12 million to settle ex-producer's suit alleging sexism on Tucker Carlson show
Fox settled for $12 million a former producer's suits alleging a misogynistic, hostile workplace on Tucker Carlson's show and coercion in the Dominion case.
2025
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Judge dismisses Fox News from sexual assault lawsuit against Ed Henry
A federal judge ruled Fox lacked notice of Henry's alleged conduct before 2020 and dismissed the network from the suit, leaving claims against Henry for trial.
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Ed Henry accuser settles sex-trafficking suit on eve of trial
The former producer settled her claims against Henry one day before trial; her lawyers said they would appeal the dismissal of Fox News to the Second Circuit.