Former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson urged Congress to pass legislation helping victims of harassment fight back in court after anchor Bill O’Reilly was ousted over sexual harassment allegations.
“The only way to end harassment is to shine a light on it,” tweeted Carlson, whose sexual harassment lawsuit against former Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes helped lead to his resignation in July.
“Ask Congress to pass the Fairness in Arbitration Act. No more silencing women!”
Ailes left after an internal investigation led by the law firm Paul, Weiss resulted in more claims, including one from then-Fox News star Megyn Kelly.
The Fairness in Arbitration Act seeks to ensure all Americans can hold large corporations accountable for wrongdoing in court without resorting to forced arbitration.
{mosads}Carlson’s tweet came hours after 21st Century Fox announced Wednesday that O’Reilly would not return to the network.
“After a thorough and careful review of the allegations, the Company and Bill O’Reilly have agreed that Bill O’Reilly will not be returning to the Fox News Channel,” it said in a statement.
Rumors about O’Reilly’s future at Fox began swirling once The New York Times published a report earlier this month that five women were paid $13 million to settle sexual harassment suits involving him.
“The O’Reilly Factor” lost about 90 advertisers following the report.
O’Reilly on Wednesday blamed his exit on “unfounded claims,” adding the circumstances around his departure are “tremendously disheartening.”
“But that is the unfortunate reality many of us in the public eye must live with today,” he said in a statement.