Fox News has been placed under investigation by authorities at the New York State Department of Labor over claims that the network perpetrated gender-based discrimination in dishing out salaries and retaliated against now former host Melissa Francis when she raised concerns about the matter. As explained by Francis’ attorney Kevin Mintzer — who also confirmed to The Daily Beast that the investigation is underway, Francis “filed a charge with the New York State Department of Labor because Fox News has not changed and continues to discriminate and retaliate against women, including those who seek equal pay for equal work.”
After a single person set fire to Fox News' Christmas tree, Fox host Dan Bongino concluded on his podcast that NYC residents now "can't even put up a Christmas tree."
— Zachary Petrizzo (@ZTPetrizzo) December 8, 2021
Francis left Fox in the middle of a dispute with the network over salary-related issues. As The Daily Beast put it, the former host “was pulled off both her regular co-hosting slot on midday roundtable show Outnumbered and her own mid-afternoon Fox Business Network program” last October before her departure from Fox. The network claimed at the time that Francis’s departure from in front of the cameras was simply part of ordinary programming decisions around the company, saying that “Fox News Media regularly considers programming changes, including to its daytime lineup, and will launch new formats as appropriate after the election.” Fox added that, supposedly, the “changes [were] being made independent of any other ongoing matter.”
EXCLUSIVE: Melissa Francis was pulled off the air last year after she complained about being underpaid compared to her male colleagues.
Fox News is now being investigated by the New York State labor department regarding her claims.https://t.co/SH2W0C1FoR
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) December 9, 2021
In reality, Francis was apparently engaged in arbitration with Fox over her salary-related concerns when she was booted from appearing on-air. As summarized by the Beast, Francis “specifically complained that she was underpaid compared to her male colleagues.” Mintzer apparently told the publication that Francis’s team was “pleased that the Department is conducting an appropriate investigation in response to her charge” and “will refrain from further comment until that investigation has concluded.” Just this year, Fox News already settled with authorities in New York City — for $1 million — after being found to have retaliated against network personnel for bringing sexual misconduct and discrimination claims to higher-ups. That settlement agreement required “immediate changes to policies surrounding reporting sexual harassment, retaliation, training, and compliance,” as The Daily Beast reports. Read more at this link.
BREAKING: New York State Department of Labor is investigating Fox News for gender discrimination and retaliation.
— Kaivan Shroff (@KaivanShroff) December 9, 2021
Fox News, meanwhile, continues to function as a fountain of both lies and laughable nonsense. After an arsonist set the large Christmas tree ablaze that sat outside of Fox News headquarters in New York City, host Tucker Carlson ranted on-air that a “Christmas tree is a symbol. It’s a symbol of a specific culture. It’s a symbol of a much-loved tradition that’s hundreds of years old… Above all, it’s a symbol of a religion… the world’s largest… Torching Christmas trees is an attack on Christianity.” Actually, it was just a (fake) tree, and no matter how unfortunate its destruction was, it’s utterly impossible to engage over real issues when those involved insist on spouting this gibberish. The persistent attempts by people like Carlson to whine and depict themselves as the real victims here are ridiculous.
Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity both led their shows last night with the worldwide breaking news about the Fox News Christmas tree. This is clearly the biggest story of all time. pic.twitter.com/3mO1Wjm4O3
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 9, 2021
