When Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes and former Fox News ratings juggernaut Bill O’Reilly were exposed as sexual predators, the stories that hit the news media were alarming in their cruelty and victimization. The story of Ed Henry, who is accused along with Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson of sexual abuses, is becoming just as disturbing.
Warning: this article discusses allegations against Henry, which include rape and physical abuse. Some of the details are graphic and may trigger some readers who have experienced sexual assault and abuse.
The details in this lawsuit, which accuses Ed Henry of brutally raping former Fox News employee Jennifer Eckhart, are extremely brutal and horrific.
The text messages included in the suit are really jawdropping.https://t.co/ixharnUKRJ
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) July 20, 2020
Former Fox News producer Jennifer Eckhart revealed text messages in a lawsuit against the cable “news” network that describe a sexual relationship filled with abuse, belittlement, and sexual assault. Henry and Fox News have denied the claims, saying that they have messages from Eckhart sent to Henry that prove their relationship was consensual. Of course, sexual text messages sent to an accused rapist do not prove anything. Consent given under duress or fear of retaliation is not consent.
The Daily Beast reports that:
‘Eckhart’s lawyers also provided in the complaint a series of text messages in which Henry referred to their relationship in graphic terms. “Fuck you and your safe word,” he wrote in one message. “You will know when I’m done.”
‘“When u r owned, you don’t get a ‘choice,’” he wrote on another occasion. “You don’t own me,” Eckhart replied.
‘“Good long session last time,” he wrote just after 10 a.m. in another series of texts. “Left you bruised, batter, dazed, sated begging for more.”’
I will fight with every fiber of my being. A statement from attorney Cathy Foti: pic.twitter.com/Ha6IqdWkKw
— Ed Henry (@edhenry) July 21, 2020
The stories are reminiscent of other stories that came out of Fox News, which helped give rise to the Me Too movement, including accusations against Ailes by Fox News hosts Megyn Kelly and Gretchen Carlson. Eckhardt’s lawyers say that nothing at the network has changed since the late Ailes’ departure.
‘What this lawsuit reveals is that today’s Fox News is the same old Fox News,” said attorney Douglas Wigdor in announcing the lawsuit’s filing. “Some of the names in leadership may have changed since Roger Ailes’ regime, but Fox News’ institutional apathy towards sexual misconduct has not.’
A complaint filed in New York federal court alleges sexual misconduct by top Fox News hosts including Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, and Howard Kurtz. The suit also addresses a previous rape allegation against Ed Henry, who was fired by Fox News on July 1 https://t.co/L7loNBudqI
— New York Magazine (@NYMag) July 20, 2020
The allegations against Hannity and Carlson involve sexual harassment, but the allegations against Henry go much farther. This is not Henry’s first accuser, and considering the amount of money Fox News has dedicated to paying off victims, there are likely many more.
‘According to the complaint, Eckhart alleged that Henry, who is married, “groomed, psychologically manipulated and coerced” her into a sexual relationship in which he referred to her as his “sex slave.” Additionally, the lawsuit claimed, “when she would not comply voluntarily, [Henry] sexually assaulted her on office property, and raped her at a hotel where Fox News frequently lodged its visiting employees.”’
. @AreuCathy & @JenniferEckhart lawsuit against Fox News is pretty explosive. It includes allegations against @seanhannity, @TuckerCarlson, @edhenry and @HowardKurtz https://t.co/hCHV1AvCrS
— Molly Jong-Fast🏡 (@MollyJongFast) July 21, 2020
Featured image screenshot via YouTube