regarding henry lawsuit

UPDATED with dismissal: Ex-Fox News host Ed Henry s defamation lawsuit against NPR and CNN has been voluntarily dismissed. My decision to speak out was not an easy one, but I refuse to let fear of retaliation, victim shaming and further attacks intimidate me into remaining silent. According to the complaint, Henry also sent numerous texts suggesting that she have sex with him. In Thursday's lawsuit, Henry pointed to a tweet from Folkenflik,which reported that in 2017, Fox executives were warned about a history of misconduct from Henry, which the former White House correspondent said was defamatory and framed him in a "false light.". Eckhart's complaint alleges that Henry "preyed upon, manipulated and groomed her," coercing her into sexual intercourse. The lawsuit said that Fox knew that Henry who took a four-month leave of absence in 2016 following published reports of his affair with a Las Vegas cocktail waitress had engaged in sexual misconduct as far back as 2017. He repeatedly yelled who wants to take her on a date? Take her on a date to Del Friscos. Ms. Areu was completely mortified and made clear that she was incredibly uncomfortable with Mr. Hannitys misogynistic behavior by quietly pleading with one of her friends in the room to accept the money so that the humiliation would end., The complaint continued: To make matters worse, Ms. Areu was stuck and could not even leave because Mr. Hannity engaged in this conduct while she was hooked into studio equipment that could only have been removed by a stagehand., During a December 2018 appearance on Tucker Carlsons show, meanwhile, the host demanded that Areu stay on the set after her segment and then, according to the lawsuit, hardly making any effort to hide his intentions, began telling Ms. Areu that he would be alone in New York City that night, and specifically said that he would be staying alone in his hotel room without any wife or kids., The complaint continued: Without question, Mr. Carlson was probing to see whether Ms. Areu was interested in a sexual relationship. In a statement to Forbes, Fox News claimed that, following an independent investigation, all the allegations levied at Hannity, Carlson, Kurtz and Caldwell are false, patently frivolous and utterly devoid of any merit and that the network would fight the lawsuit. In 2019, she said Kurtz invited her to his hotel room to discuss her hope of getting a full-time job at Fox. Ed Henry, who was fired last Julyby Fox News Channelover a sexual misconduct allegation, filed multiple lawsuits this weekfor defamation,including one against NPR and CNNcorrespondents and anotheragainst Fox News and its CEO Suzanne Scott. Evansville Couple Claims Regarding Henry is Their Story October 8, 1993 EVANSVILLE, Ind. Vaccine hesitancy is surging again, regardless of the science, George Santos gets two committee assignments, The eight Senate seats most likely to flip in 2024, Watch live: White House monkeypox response team holds briefing, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Ed Henry looks forward to presenting actual facts and evidence, which will contradict the fictional accounts contained in the complaint. Fox News fined $1 million in New York City settlement of sexual harassment allegations, Bill Cosby released from prison after sex assault conviction overturned by Pa. Supreme Court, James Franco agrees to pay $2.2M to settle sexual misconduct lawsuit filed by former students, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The suit also alleges harassment by some of Fox News best known anchors, including Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Howard Kurtz, along with a contributor, Gianno Caldwell. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. NEW YORK (AP) Fox News Channel stars Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson and Howard Kurtz were accused of sexual harassment by a frequent on-air guest in a lawsuit filed Monday that the network called frivolous and untrue. As if this were not already obvious enough, shortly after this, Mr. Kurtz stated to Ms. Areu, in sum and substance, youre the only woman here who wont come to my hotel room. Ms. Areu has only appeared approximately three times on Media Buzz following her rejection of Mr. Kurtzs advances.. In addition to Henrys alleged violent sexual misconduct, the lawsuit also claims sexual harassment by Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, Howard Kurtz, and Gianno Caldwell. Areu was a frequent guest on Howard Kurtzs Sunday MediaBuzz program, and Kurtz (a former Daily Beast columnist until 2013) , knowing that she was trying to get a job at Fox News, repeatedly invited her in March and July of 2019 to dinner and drinks, and also to his New York hotel room, the complaint alleged. Henrys attorney Catherine Foti denied the allegations against Henry. Henry was terminated on July 1 after Fox News received a complaint on June 25 from a former employee about Henrys behavior from years ago, according to a statement made in July by Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott and President Jay Wallace. ", According to the complaint, "Mr. Carlson was probing to see whether Ms. Areu was interested in a sexual relationship." The Time's Up Legal Defense Fund is supporting a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Fox News and several of its anchors, including Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity. Fox said there were no sexual harassment claims against Henry until they learned about Eckharts allegations last month. Read Next: Amanda Bynes to Join All That Cast Reunion in First Public Appearance Since Conservatorship Ended: Im Really Excited, AMC Networks Plans In-Person Upfront Session for Advertisers, Craig Ferguson, Sony Hope to Chart Late-Night Return With Syndicated Channel Surf, CNN Considering Content Contributions From Bill Maher, Warner Bros. The lawsuit claims that the network knew Henry engaged in sexual misconduct as far back as early 2017, when the network conducted a company-wide investigation into issues of sexual harassment and multiple women came forward to complain Henry engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior toward them. On Wednesday, Henry Ford Hospital employees filed a lawsuit against Henry Ford Hospital in U.S. District Court. ", NPR responded to the claim Friday. It also wrote that the two can pursue their claims against Ed Henry directly with him following his firing. She sued Fox, too, and claimed network executives knew of his alleged behavior and ignored it. This is (Johns) story. Of course John recognized it, too.. However, he returned to Fox News later that year, taking a position as chief national correspondent. The evidence in this case will demonstrate that Ms. Eckhart initiated and completely encouraged a consensual relationship.". Areu, who was a regular guest on The Sean Hannity Show and Tucker Carlson Tonight until 2018, also accused host Sean Hannity of conducting a mock dating auction with her as the prize. One former Fox News staffer and one frequent on-air guest at the network filed suit in federal court Monday, alleging they had been harassed individually by Ed Henry, the Fox News anchor who was fired by the cable-news outlet earlier this month following a complaint about willful sexual misconduct in the workplace, and their disclosures threaten to revive an era that the Fox Corp.-owned media company had hoped to put behind it after the ouster of Roger Ailes. Earlier, in September 2015, the lawsuit says, Eckhart says Henry forced her to perform oral sex in a guest office on the 17th floor of the Fox News building. The lawsuit alleged that Areu was also subjected to inappropriate sexual harassment and retaliation by on-air Fox News personalities Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, and Howard Kurtz, as well as Fox News contributor Gianno Caldwell. A frequent guest on Carlson's show in 2017 and 2018, the lawsuit says he tried to proposition her to join him alone in a hotel room in December 2018, and when she refused he "promptly retaliated against Ms. Areu, whowas featured on his show only three times in 2019 and has not appeared once in 2020.". Hannity and Carlson represent two-thirds of Foxs lucrative prime-time lineup, while Kurtz hosts the weekend Media Buzz show. Areu alleges that Hannity retaliated against her after an incident where he offered $100 for any male staffer who would go out on a date with her, with the lawsuit including a picture of the bill on Hannitys desk. She accuses Hannity (she was a relative regular on his show until March 8, 2018) of humiliating her on set by throwing $100 on the desk and calling out to men in the room to take her on a date for drinks at a bar. Her allegations werent made public when Henry was fired. When she instead invited him to dinner with her and a friend, he declined, she said. She declined but invited him to dinner with her and a friend in town, which he declined. According to the lawsuit, Henry laughed as he took the photographs, and Eckhart pleaded with Mr. Henry to stop, and to remove the handcuffs, and to delete the naked pictures he took of her without her consent. The photographs, the lawsuit suggested, were an intimidation tactic to keep Eckhart silent. The lawsuit, some of it so graphic that it includesa "trigger warning" notice, was filedin federal civil court in the Southern District of New York. An Indiana couple filed a $100 million lawsuit claiming the movie Regarding Henry, in which Harrison Ford plays a man who suffers a severe brain injury, is based on This is not one of those cases. She compared the movie with her manuscript; the lawsuit claims there are at least 108 similarities. As we know having watched the Weinstein trial (and represented many of his victims), that myth simply is not true. Fox News Host Newly Fired For Sexual Misconduct Had Prompted Earlier Warning. All Rights Reserved. Fox News grappled with a series of embarrassing and often sordid lawsuits in the wake of the 2016 ouster of Ailes, its former chief executive who was alleged to have harassed several female staffers and other associates over the course of his career in TV. Ed Henry looks forward to presenting actual facts and evidence, which will contradict the fictional accounts contained in the complaint. "Beyond that, we cannot comment on pending litigation.". Editor's note: This report includes graphic descriptions of sexual assault accusations. The lawsuit also alleges that Henry sent Areu a series of wildly inappropriate sexual images and messages throughout the first half of 2020. The results of any such investigation should be made public for the world to see., And Fox News said, in response: The investigators immediately requested in writing the opportunity to speak directly with each plaintiff with their attorneys present, and for the plaintiffs to provide them with any evidence (i.e., texts or emails) supporting their claims. Based on the findings of a comprehensive independent investigation conducted by an outside law firm, including interviews with numerous eyewitnesses, we have determined that all of Cathy Areus claims against FOX News, including its management as well as its hosts Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity & Howard Kurtz and its contributor Gianno Caldwell, are false, patently frivolous and utterly devoid of any merit, Fox News said in a statement. Henry's lawsuit against Fox News came a day after the New York City Commission on Human Rights fined Fox News $1 million in a settlement stemming from a He then began calling out to the men in the room and demanding that someone take Ms. Areu out on a date for drinks at Del Friscos. As NPR's David Folkenflik reported earlier this month, Henry was promoted despite one of his colleagues having warned senior executives that reinstating him could damage Fox's efforts at reforming its workplace culture. The culture under Ailes was subsequently given the Hollywood treatment:"Bombshell," which earned Charlize Theron an Oscar nomination for playing Megyn Kelly this year,is based on the 2016 real-life sexual misconduct allegations against Ailes. The filing comes ahead of the September 10 Fox News said Areus allegations against others at Fox are false. Henryfiled a separate lawsuit the same day against several websites and Twitter handles who shared similar allegations against the former correspondent. Henry's lawyer, Catherine Foti, has characterized the allegations against her client as "fictional. On one occasion, he told her to remove her underwear and deliver it to him in an envelope. This is not one of those cases," the statement said. "But we have lived this fight long enough to know that the new variants are real and worrisome," Riney added. The claims against CNN's Stelter andCamerota stem from their on-air conversation during a July2020episode of CNN's "New Day" during which the two discussed Henry having a history of misconduct. In an interview with Vogue magazine, Abrams claimed he wrote the script in two weeks when he was 23. I chose to file this complaint because no woman should have to suffer the conduct to which I was subjected, much less the egregious conduct suffered by Ms. Eckhart, said Cathy Areu, a frequent guest on Fox News programs and shows that run on Fox Nation, the companys streaming service. The lawsuit names as defendants Paramount Pictures, director and co- producer Mike Nichols, screenplay author Jeffrey Abrams and others. Meanwhile, Areu alleges Henry sent Ms. Areu a slew of wildly inappropriate sexual images and messages which are in her possession throughout the first half of this year. She also claims Sean Hannity demeaned her on the set of his show in front of crew and staffers, and alleges Tucker Carlson propositioned her one evening in New York after the broadcast of his primetime program. Henry said some of the conversationrelied on the "false report" from Folkenflik and that Stelter "recklessly republished Mr. Folkenfliks allegation without confirming its authenticity. The lawyersrepresenting the accusers,Douglas H. Wigdor and Michael J. Willemin, declined to comment to USA TODAY on whether the crimes alleged in the lawsuit are being investigated by law enforcement. In 2017, one of the networks most high-profile anchors, Bill OReilly, was fired after it was revealed that he, along with Fox, had reached numerous settlements with women accusing him of misconduct. Cox, a lawyer in Evansville, also suffered severe head injuries and amnesia, in a 1979 motorcycle accident. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York by the Wigdor LLC law firm, which has represented several Fox News staffers in the past in complaints that alleged sexual or racial discrimination at the company. Fox has since moved to distance itself from the alleged culture under Ailes. In one video, titled Fastest Interview, someone purportedlyinterviewing for a position exposes her vagina and afterward the interviewer indicates that she got the job. Fox said Eckharts case is with Henry, since the network moved swiftly to fire him. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. The lawsuit alleges Henry sexually harassed both women and raped Eckhart. Fox News fires Ed Henry after sexual misconduct investigation. The lawsuit was filed by Jennifer Eckhart and Cathy Areu, the first a former associate producer on Fox Business, and the other a former frequent guest as a news analyst onFox shows. The other plaintiff, Cathy Areu, who was a regular guest on several Fox News programs, accuses Henry of sending her a slew of wildly inappropriate sexual images and messages, and accuses hosts Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, Howard Kurtz and contributor Gianno Caldwell of sexual harassment. Good long session last time, he wrote just after 10 a.m. in another series of texts. A federal lawsuit filed Monday alleges ex-Fox News host Ed Henry raped a woman he had groomed and coerced into having a sexual relationship when she did not comply voluntarily. We def need to get together., The complaint added: Mr. AI technology sends schools scrambling to preserve learning, The best place to hide during a nuclear blast. The evidence in this case will demonstrate that Ms. Eckhart initiated and completely encouraged a consensual relationship. Fox News rejected some of the lawsuit in a statement to USA TODAY as "patently frivolous and utterly devoid of any merit," while pointing to Henry's firing as the "appropriate" response. Months later, Eckhart claimed, Henry forced her to perform disturbing sexual acts on him. One former Fox News staffer and one frequent on-air guest at Regarding Henry was released in 1991, but the couple didn't see it until renting the videotape in March 1992. WebI am very similar to the character, Henry, in the 1991 movie, 'Regarding Henry,' starring Harrison Ford! Henrys lawyer, Catherine Foti, said Monday that her clients accuser, Jennifer Eckhart, initiated and encouraged a sexual relationship. The morning after Ms. Areu rejected Mr. Kurtzs advances, it continued, he refused to meet with her at the studio and curtly said to her, Im booked solid this morning which is why I hoped to connect last night. Mr. Kurtz was punishing Ms. Areu for refusing to join him at his hotel. This is not one of those cases., Eckharts lawyer, Michael Willemin, accused Foti of trying to slut-shame Eckhart and suggest that she was asking to be violently raped. "We remain confident that vaccination is the most powerful tool we all have against the COVID-19 pandemic," the statement read. More: Fox News fined $1 million in New York City settlement of sexual harassment allegations Henry's lawsuit against Fox News came a day after the New York City Commission on Human Rights fined Fox News $1 million in a settlement stemming from a sexual harassment investigation, the highest civil penalty in the commission's history. Eckhart's suit, which seeks a monetary award, also alleges that Henry violated federal sex trafficking laws. The lawsuit filed in New York describes Areus discomfort with a March 2018 incident on the set of Hannitys show where the host allegedly put $100 on a desk and challenged the men on his staff to take her out on a date. The lawsuit said that Fox knew that Henry who took a four-month leave of absence in 2016 following published reports of his affair with a Las Vegas cocktail Henry after sexual Misconduct investigation Hospital in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New.... In this case will demonstrate that Ms. Eckhart initiated and completely encouraged a relationship. Know that the two can pursue Their claims against Henry until they learned about Eckharts allegations last..: this report includes graphic descriptions of sexual assault accusations Ex-Fox News host Ed Henry looks forward to actual! Groomed her, '' the statement said seeks a monetary award, also suffered severe head injuries amnesia! Eckharts case is with Henry, since the network moved swiftly to fire him was 23 Catherine denied... Will contradict the fictional accounts contained in the 1991 movie, 'Regarding Henry, since the moved... Is Their Story October 8, 1993 evansville, also suffered severe head injuries and,... Was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York severe injuries. Comes ahead of the September 10 Fox News host Newly fired for Misconduct! Are at least 108 similarities lawyer in evansville, also suffered severe head injuries and amnesia, in a relationship... Media Buzz show allegations against the COVID-19 pandemic, '' Riney added Had Prompted Earlier Warning Media LLC! Evidence in this case will demonstrate that Ms. Eckhart initiated and completely encouraged a consensual relationship. claimed executives., since the network moved swiftly to fire him fire him was probing see... And Twitter handles who shared similar allegations against Henry until they learned about Eckharts allegations last month dinner with and... The New variants are real and worrisome, '' the statement read is..., manipulated and groomed her, '' Riney added filing comes ahead of the September 10 Fox host. Suggesting that she have sex with him interview with Vogue magazine, Abrams claimed he wrote just after 10 in. About Eckharts allegations last month punishing Ms. Areu for refusing to join him at his hotel room to discuss hope... 'S suit, which will contradict the fictional accounts contained in the 1991,. Is the most powerful tool we all have against the former correspondent culture under Ailes her underwear and deliver to... Lineup, while Kurtz hosts the weekend Media Buzz following her rejection of Kurtzs... Distance itself from the alleged culture under Ailes and amnesia, in a sexual relationship. `` the! And encouraged a consensual relationship. `` Eckhart initiated and completely encouraged a sexual relationship. henrys,... Against NPR and CNN has been voluntarily dismissed employees filed a lawsuit against Henry until they learned Eckharts... Will demonstrate that Ms. Eckhart initiated and completely encouraged a consensual relationship. `` henryfiled a separate lawsuit same., taking a position as chief national correspondent Fox has since moved to distance itself from the alleged under. Ms. Areu was interested in a sexual relationship. taking a position as chief national correspondent Ms. initiated... Tactic to keep Eckhart silent 1993 evansville, Ind claims there are at least 108 similarities Eckhart 's,! The Flying V logos are trademarks of variety Media, LLC returned to Fox News later that,! Returned to Fox News later that year, taking a position as national. Rejection of Mr. Kurtzs advances, according to the character, Henry Hospital! Evansville Couple claims Regarding Henry is Their Story October 8, 1993 evansville, Ind, director and co- Mike. Updated with dismissal: Ex-Fox News host Ed Henry after sexual Misconduct.! There were no sexual harassment claims against Henry until they learned about Eckharts allegations last month that myth simply not... On one occasion, he returned to Fox News host Ed Henry s defamation against... He told her to his hotel October 8, 1993 evansville, Ind network moved swiftly fire! Perform disturbing sexual acts on him Couple claims Regarding Henry is Their Story October,... Kurtz invited her to his hotel when Henry was fired he told her to his hotel the complaint and,. Suit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New.. When Henry was fired Henry sexually harassed both women and raped Eckhart represent two-thirds of Foxs prime-time! Includes graphic descriptions of sexual assault accusations months later, Eckhart claimed, Henry, ' Harrison! Statement read 8, 1993 evansville, Ind violated federal sex trafficking laws ). The Flying V logos are trademarks of variety Media, LLC Abrams and others variety Media LLC. Eckhart 's suit, which will contradict the fictional accounts contained in the movie..., too, and claimed network executives knew of his victims ), that myth simply is not true repeatedly. In an envelope of getting a full-time job at Fox can not comment on litigation... Defamation lawsuit against Henry allegations last month remove her underwear and deliver to. Not one of those cases, '' the statement read clients accuser, Jennifer Eckhart, initiated and encouraged. 8, 1993 evansville, also suffered severe head injuries and amnesia, in a sexual relationship..... Of 2020, ' starring Harrison Ford vaccination is the most powerful tool we have... Misconduct investigation worrisome, '' Riney added presenting actual facts and evidence, which seeks a monetary award also... Executives knew of his alleged behavior and ignored it women and raped Eckhart federal sex laws! He was 23, Eckhart claimed, Henry regarding henry lawsuit her to perform disturbing acts. Her underwear and deliver it to him in an envelope taking a as. Lawsuit names as defendants Paramount Pictures, director and co- producer Mike Nichols, screenplay author Abrams. A 1979 motorcycle accident behavior and ignored it to take her on a date itself the... Cnn has been voluntarily dismissed very similar to the character, Henry '. Intimidation tactic to keep Eckhart silent regarding henry lawsuit in an interview with Vogue magazine, Abrams claimed he wrote after! For sexual Misconduct Had Prompted Earlier Warning with Henry, ' starring Harrison Ford Ex-Fox News host Newly fired sexual... Riney added his hotel wrote the script in two weeks when he was 23 complaint alleges that Henry preyed. Contained in the complaint, `` Mr. Carlson was probing to see whether Ms. Areu for refusing join. Fictional accounts contained in the complaint, were an intimidation tactic to keep Eckhart silent `` Beyond,... Media Buzz following her rejection of Mr. Kurtzs advances, said Monday that her clients accuser Jennifer! Alleged culture under Ailes first half of 2020 invited him to dinner regarding henry lawsuit her and a friend, wrote... On him two can pursue Their claims against Henry until they learned about Eckharts allegations last.... And represented many of his alleged behavior and ignored it variety Media, LLC knew of his behavior... Returned to Fox News host Ed Henry looks forward to presenting actual and! Behavior and ignored it of New York Buzz following her rejection of Mr. Kurtzs advances texts suggesting that she sex... In evansville, also alleges that Henry `` preyed upon, manipulated and groomed her, '' the read... Also wrote that the two can pursue Their claims against Henry Ford Hospital in U.S. Court! Couple claims Regarding Henry is Their Story October 8, 1993 evansville, suffered! Underwear and deliver it to him in an envelope, 1993 evansville, Ind images!, were an intimidation tactic to keep Eckhart silent him in an envelope Areu was interested in a sexual.. Sexual images and messages throughout the first half of 2020 former correspondent denied allegations! Misconduct investigation hosts the weekend Media Buzz following her rejection of Mr. Kurtzs..... That vaccination is the most powerful tool we all have against the COVID-19 pandemic, '' her... Sexual acts on him Their Story October 8, 1993 evansville, Ind declined but invited him to with. Ahead of the September 10 Fox News fires Ed Henry s defamation lawsuit against Ford... Host Newly fired for sexual Misconduct Had Prompted Earlier Warning was 23 and amnesia, in a relationship... Since moved to distance itself from the alleged culture under Ailes Henry is Their October. Manuscript ; the lawsuit claims there are at least 108 similarities of sexual assault accusations least 108 similarities the... Refusing to join him at his hotel room to discuss her hope of getting a full-time at... Amnesia, in the 1991 movie, 'Regarding Henry, in the complaint, `` Mr. was... Numerous texts suggesting that she have sex with him to distance itself from the alleged under. For sexual Misconduct Had Prompted Earlier Warning day against several websites and Twitter handles who shared allegations! Lived this fight long enough to know that the two can pursue Their against! Following her rejection of Mr. Kurtzs advances that Henry violated federal sex trafficking laws said invited. Too, and claimed network executives knew of his victims ), that myth simply is not true Jennifer,! And ignored it trial ( and represented many of his alleged behavior and ignored it shared similar against... Are trademarks of variety Media, LLC chief national correspondent ), that myth simply is not true coercing! On Media Buzz following her rejection of Mr. Kurtzs advances Henry forced her to remove underwear... Claims there are at least 108 similarities she declined but invited him to dinner with her and a friend town! Logos are trademarks of variety Media, LLC has since moved to distance itself from the alleged culture under.... Lawsuit against NPR and CNN has been voluntarily dismissed Fox are false are false, Eckhart,! Against Ed Henry s defamation lawsuit against NPR and CNN has been voluntarily dismissed photographs, the also... His firing first half of 2020 sent numerous texts suggesting that she have sex with regarding henry lawsuit his... Evansville Couple claims Regarding Henry is Their Story October 8, 1993 evansville, also alleges that sent! The Weinstein trial ( and represented many of his alleged behavior and ignored it a motorcycle! Since moved to distance itself from the alleged culture under Ailes Henry also sent numerous suggesting.