Roger Ailes calls Gretchen Carlson's sex-harassment suit "defamatory." Watch video
Gretchen Carlson on the set of 'Fox and Friends' in 2010. (Aristide Economopoulos/The Star-Ledger) HACKENSACK - FOX News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes of Cresskill is calling Gretchen Carlson's sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit "defamatory" and "offensive," and says the allegations will be challenged in court.
"Gretchen Carlson's allegations are false," Ailes said in a statment. "This is a retaliatory suit for the network's decision not to renew her contract, which was due to the fact that her disappointingly low ratings were dragging down the afternoon lineup."
Longtime Fox News host Carlson, 50, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against network chief Ailes, 76, claiming he ogled her, suggested they have sex together, and called her a "man-hater" who should "get along with the boys."
In the suit, which was filed Wednesday morning in Bergen County Superior Court, Carlson claims Ailes made "sexual and/or sexist comments" and made "sexual advances by various means."
"Ailes has unlawfully retaliated against Carlson and sabotaged her career because she refused his sexual advances and complained about severe and pervasive sexual harassment," the lawsuit claims.
Carlson files sex-harassment suit
In his statement, Ailes said FOX News helped Carlson's career over the years.
"FOX News provided her with more on-air opportunities over her 11-year tenure than any other employer in the industry, for which she thanked me in her recent book," Ailes said.
"This defamatory lawsuit is not only offensive, it is wholly without merit and will be defended vigorously," he said.
In response to Ailes' statement, Carlson's attorneys on Thursday responded by saying that Carlson's ratings was up 33 percent year-to-date and 23 percent in a key demographic.
"She succeeded and was the number one cable news show in her time slot in total viewers," Carlson's reps said in a statement.
"Regarding Ailes' claims that Gretchen's allegations are false, we challenge him to deny, under oath, that he made the statements attributed to him in the Complaint.
Carlsons lawyers added that Ailes does not allow his employees to speak to the press or publish anything without prior approval.
"Gretchen was chastised for answering a question from a hometown newspaper about her favorite Minnesota State Fair food," the reps said. "In her book Gretchen told her story while trying to keep her job -- knowing that Ailes had to approve what she said."
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.