Former WNYW morning anchor Juliet Huddy was paid “a sum in the high six figures” in exchange for her silence and an agreement not to sue over allegations of sexual harassment by Fox News host Bill O’Reilly.
LawNewz reports a draft of an intent to sue letter from Huddy’s attorneys says “Mr. O’Reilly had called Ms. Huddy repeatedly and that it sometimes sounded like he was masturbating. He invited her to his house on Long Island, tried to kiss her, took her to dinner and the theater, and after asking her to return a key to his hotel room, appeared at the door in his boxer shorts, according to the letter.”
The letter, sent weeks after the ouster of Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes, also makes allegations against CEO of Fox Television stations and co-president of Fox News Jack Abernethy.
“The letter contains substantial falsehoods, which both men have vehemently denied,” said Fox News spokesperson Irena Briganti.
Huddy left WNYW in September after joining the Fox-owned station in 2013. According to LawNewz:
Huddy also claimed she faced sexual harassment from Abernethy who “constantly called her at the office and asking her to come by his office.” Shortly after receiving the settlement, Huddy abruptly left Fox 5 in New York in September. The move came a day after Fox settled with Gretchen Carlson, for a reported $20 million.
The New York Times reports “Details about the allegations and the agreement between Ms. Huddy and 21st Century Fox are based on interviews with current and former Fox News employees, the letter written by her lawyers to the company, and three pages of a draft of the settlement agreement.”
Our sister site, TVNewser reports Huddy’s father, John Huddy Sr., was an old friend of Ailes. Juliet Huddy’s brother, John, works for Fox News as a Middle East correspondent.