UltraViolet Responds to Rape Accusations Against Ex-Fox Reporter Ed Henry and Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, Other Fox Journalists
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, July 20, 2020
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com
UltraViolet Responds to Rape Accusations Against Ex-Fox Reporter Ed Henry and Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, Other Fox Journalists
Earlier today, a lawsuit was filed by two former Fox News employees accusing former Fox News chief and national correspondent Ed Henry of rape. The lawsuit, filed by Cathy Areu and Jennifer Eckhart, also claims that Fox News primetime anchors Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson, as well as journalist Howard Kurtz and network political analyst Gianno Caldwell, sexually harassed and abused them.
The Manhattan federal court lawsuit comes three weeks after Fox News fired Henry for sexual misconduct.
In response, Shaunna Thomas, co-founder and executive director of UltraViolet, released the following statement:
“The allegations of sexual abuse against former Fox News anchor Ed Henry are nothing short of horrifying. The fact that Fox News ignored Henry’s violent and calculated sexual attacks against multiple women colleagues for years is a damning indictment that the culture of abuse created and perpetuated by Roger Ailes and Bill O’Reilly continues to thrive at the network.
“The allegations that Fox News’ Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity also took part in and fostered this toxic culture is hardly surprising. Fox News may deny these allegations, but we’ve seen the network lie time and time again, provide cover, and even take major losses to subsidize predators and propagandists. Only a transparent, independent investigation into Carlson, Hannity, Kurtz and Caldwell that is made public can be trusted.
“For decades, Fox News has done little to address the culture of abuse that continues to thrive at the network. History shows that they will not take action against a sexual abuser unless forced to do so.”
“We thank Cathy Areu and Jennifer Eckhart for their courage to confront this violence and abuse head on. Enough is enough.”
For years, UltraViolet has continued to hold Fox News accountable for normalizing sexual harassment and abuse:
- Last March, UltraViolet demanded that Fox News #FireTuckerCarlson after reports showed extreme sexism, defense of domestic abusers and child rapists.
- In 2017, UltraViolet More drafted a letter signed by more than 450 survivors of sexual assault to 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch asking him to make sure there is accountability for sexual harassment and assault at Fox News and to fire Bill O’Reilly.
- In 2016, UltraViolet called for Fox News to fire Bill O’Reilly and launch a full investigation into sexual harassment and abuse at the network.
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