Fox News has settled a pair of lawsuits with a former producer for Tucker Carlson and Maria Bartiromo for $12 million.
Abby Grossberg alleged in a lawsuit that the network had coerced her into providing false testimony in a deposition. Grossberg also filed a separate lawsuit alleging she was bullied and subjected to antisemitic and sexist comments.
In a statement Friday, Grossberg said: “I am 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, as quoted by the New York Times.
The deposition in question had to do with the defamation case Dominion Voting Systems had brought against Fox News, which the network would later settle for $787.5 million. Dominion alleged that it was defamed by Fox hosts and guests who knowingly spread false information tying its machines to unsubstantiated claims of election fraud. A voting-machine company called Smartmatic has also filed suit against Fox for the same reason.
After the settlement, the network fired Carlson, who had made disparaging comments about management in comments revealed by the Dominion discovery process. Reports at the time suggested that Carlson’s exit had to do with Grossberg’s accusations, among other things.
Fox News responded to the settlement: “We are pleased that we have been able to resolve this matter without further litigation.”
Justin Wells, Carlson’s ex-senior executive producer, also responded: “We deny Ms. Grossberg’s claims and allegations against Tucker Carlson and his team. Nevertheless, we are glad that Fox has settled this matter and that all sides can move forward.”
Grossberg joined Carlson’s program in 2022 after working for Maria Bartiromo for a number of years. While working as a booker for Carlson, she never met the anchor.
Fox fired Grossberg days after she filed the lawsuits, saying in a statement at the time that she had disclosed privileged information about the Dominion case.