Fox reaches $12m settlement with former producer who sued company over ‘toxic’ workplace

A settlement with Abby Grossberg is the latest in a string of legal battles at the network

Fox Corporation has reached a $12m settlement in a lawsuit from a former Fox News producer who alleged a culture of misogyny at the network and accused Fox lawyers of pressuring her into making misleading statements in a blockbuster defamation case from a voting machines company.

Abby Grossberg, a former producer for programs hosted by Maria Bartiromo and Tucker Carlson, accused the network of fostering a toxic workplace” where “truth remains a fugitive” in a revealing lawsuit that depicts an environment where women are routinely verbally violated “by a poisonous and entrenched patriarchy.”

The lawsuit filed in US District Court in New York in March claimed that the network “subjugates women based on vile sexist stereotypes, typecasts religious minorities and belittles their traditions, and demonstrates little to no regard for those suffering from mental illness.”

A lawyer for Ms Grossberg confirmed that a settlement on 30 June concludes her claims against the network and others who were named in the suit, including Carlson and his producers.

In a statement, Ms Grossberg defended her allegations, which have been withdrawn, but added that she is “heartened that Fox News has taken me and my legal claims seriously.”

“I am hopeful, based on our discussions with Fox News today, that this resolution represents a positive step by the Network regarding its treatment of women and minorities in the workplace,” she added. “I will not comment further on my publicly filed disputes with Fox, but will continue to speak out on issues and causes that I believe in, including journalism, equality, dignity, and respect in the workplace.”

A statement from a spokesperson for Fox to The Independent states: “We are pleased that we have been able to resolve this matter without further litigation.”

In a separate case, since dismissed, Ms Grossberg alleged that Fox attorneys pressured her to provide misleading statements in a sworn deposition in a case involving Dominion Voting Systems and the company’s defamation lawsuit accusing the network of repeatedly broadcasting baseless statements about its business in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.

Such claims animated arguments from former president Donald Trump and his allies as they sought to overturn the results and baselessly assert victory in legal claims that were roundly dismissed.

A statement from Fox at the time of those allegations said Ms Grossberg’s statements “are baseless and we will vigorously defend Fox against all of her claims.”

Fox ultimately settled with Dominion for a historic $787m, the largest-ever settlement in a libel case in American history.

The settlement with Ms Grossberg marks the fourth in a string of lawsuits Fox leadership have navigated in recent months, facing mounting scrutiny in the Dominion case, its aftermath, and pending legal challenges that similarly task the company with defending itself from defamation claims stemming from 2020 statements.

Smartmatic, another voting company, is pursuing a $2.7bn lawsuit that closely tracks with the Dominion case.