Fox News apologises to Gretchen Carlson

Gretchen Carlson

The Fox News channel in the US has settled a sexual harassment case against it by one of its former top news presenters, Gretchen Carlson. 

Her complaints saw its chief executive, Roger Ailes, leave the right-wing TV channel during the summer.

Ms Carlson had complained that Mr Ailes had victimised her and ruined her career for rejecting his advances.

The company apologised and has reportedly paid Ms Carlson $20m to drop her case.

"We regret and apologize for the fact that Gretchen was not treated with the respect and dignity that she and all of our colleagues deserve," said 21st Century Fox, the group that owns Fox News.

Ms Carlson had claimed that Mr Ailes, one of the most prominent figures in the US news industry, first demoted her then sacked her after she spurned him.

Mr Ailes denied the allegations but resigned after an investigation by 21st Century Fox brought forward similar complaints from other female employees.

Roger Ailes

 Roger Ailes became a leading figure in US cable news after Rupert Murdoch brought him in to set up Fox in the mid-90s.

For almost twenty years, Mr. Ailes was the top dog as his channel earned a billion dollars a year in profit, and transformed the media landscape which had been dominated by CNN.

Ms Carlson said: "I am gratified that 21st Century Fox took decisive action after I filed my complaint."

"I want to thank all the brave women who came forward to tell their own stories and the many people across the country who embraced and supported me."

In her complaint, made after she was sacked in June this year, she said that Mr Ailes "unlawfully retaliated against Carlson and sabotaged her career because she refused his sexual advances and complained about severe and pervasive sexual harassment."