Gretchen Carlson

Gretchen Carlson

Carlson in 2006
Born Gretchen Elizabeth Carlson
(1966-06-21) June 21, 1966[1]
Anoka, Minnesota, U.S.
Alma mater Stanford University
(B.A., Sociology, 1990)
Occupation Former host of The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson
(Fox News Channel)
(2005–16)
Known for
Title
Religion Lutheranism
Spouse(s) Casey Close (m. 1997–present)[2]
Children 2
Website gretchencarlson.com

Gretchen Elizabeth Carlson (born June 21, 1966[1]) is an American television commentator and author.

Carlson was crowned the 1989 Miss America while representing her native state of Minnesota. She graduated from Stanford University with honors before embarking on a career in television. Gaining experience as anchor and reporter for several local network affiliates, she joined CBS News as a correspondent in 2000 and became the co-host of the Saturday edition of The Early Show. In 2005, she moved to Fox News Channel and became the co-host of the morning show Fox & Friends along with Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade. In 2013, she announced her departure from Fox & Friends and soon thereafter launched a new program called The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson. Her autobiography, Getting Real, was published in 2015 by Viking.

Her contract with Fox News expired on June 23, 2016. On July 6, she filed a lawsuit against then-Fox News CEO Roger Ailes claiming sexual harassment.[3] Subsequently, dozens of other women also stepped forward to accuse Ailes of harassment,[4] and Ailes was forced to resign under pressure.[5] In September 2016, Carlson and 21st Century Fox Corporation (Fox News' parent corporation) settled the lawsuit for $20 million.[6]

Early life

Carlson was raised in a Lutheran family in Anoka, Minnesota, the daughter of Karen Barbara (Hyllengren) and Lee Roy Carlson.[7][8] She is of Swedish descent.[9] Her father owned a car dealership with her uncle.[7] She has two brothers and one sister.[7] Her grandfather was the pastor of the then second-largest Lutheran church in the United States.[10] She graduated from Anoka-Hennepin School District 11's Anoka High School, where she was a 1984 class valedictorian.[11] One of her childhood nannies was Michele Bachmann, the future Republican congresswoman.[12]

Growing up, Carlson was an accomplished violinist, winning numerous local and national competitions. She performed as a soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra as an 8th grader and was the concertmistress for the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony. She spent five summers studying at the prestigious Aspen Music Festival and School in Aspen, Colorado. Winner of several concerto competitions at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis, she was also featured as a soloist with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.[13]

In 1984, Carlson was elected as one of the Anoka Homecoming attendants.[13] She won the title of Miss Minnesota in 1988 [14] and became the third woman from Minnesota to win the Miss America title. For the talent competition, she played Zigeunerweisen, the violin composition of Sarasate.

Carlson graduated from Stanford University, where she studied organizational behavior.[15] While at Stanford, she spent a study-abroad year at Oxford University, studying the works of Virginia Woolf.[15]

In September 2011, Carlson was named to the inaugural class of the Anoka High School Hall of Fame.[13][16]

Career

Carlson originally gained recognition as the co-anchor of the Saturday edition of The Early Show on CBS along with Russ Mitchell. She joined CBS News as a correspondent in 2000 and began working on The Early Show in 2002. Before her tenure at CBS, she served as a weekend anchor and reporter for KXAS-TV in Dallas, Texas, and was an anchor and reporter at WOIO-TV in Cleveland, Ohio, and for WCPO-TV, in Cincinnati. She began her television career in Richmond, Virginia, as a political reporter for WRIC-TV.[17] She began her media career in a franchise called Neighborhood News.

Carlson was moved to Fox & Friends initially as a weekend substitute host. But on September 25, 2006, a shifting of anchors, which included E.D. Hill moving to the 10 a.m. hour of Fox News Live, opened a weekday slot on Fox & Friends, which she filled. She co-hosted with Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade for several years. She left Fox & Friends in September 2013 to anchor a one-hour daytime program, The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson, beginning in the fall of 2013, taking part of the slot opened by Megyn Kelly's move to primetime.[18][19]

On Fox & Friends, during a January 10, 2007, interview with Dan Bartlett, counselor to then-president George W. Bush, Carlson labeled Democratic U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy a "hostile enemy" of the United States, "right here on the home front". Bartlett replied, "Well, we don't view Ted Kennedy as a hostile enemy. We do view him to be an open and often critic of the war. He has been from the very outset. I don't think that's anything new." Keith Olbermann chose her as that day's "Worst Person in the World" on that night's broadcast of his show Countdown,[20] while Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post called it "the Fox News exchange of the day" and asked, "Doesn't the Constitution allow for dissent?"[21]

In July 2014, Carlson appeared in the movie Persecuted as journalist Diana Lucas.

Sexual harassment lawsuit and settlement

On the morning of July 6, 2016, Carlson confirmed on her Twitter account that she was no longer with Fox News.[22] That day, she filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox News chairman Roger Ailes in the Superior Court of New Jersey.[23] In her complaint, Carlson alleged that she was fired from her program for refusing Ailes' sexual advances.[23]

Carlson's allegations received widespread media coverage.[24] After Carlson came forward, six more women spoke to Gabriel Sherman of New York magazine, alleging that Ailes had sexually harassed them and that Ailes had "spoke openly of expecting women to perform sexual favors in exchange for job opportunities."[25] Shortly thereafter, Carlson sat down for an interview with John Koblin of the New York Times, saying, "I wanted to stand up for other women who maybe faced similar circumstances."[26]

As the case progressed, Carlson reached out directly to her fans, thanking them in a series of Twitter videos[27][28] and offering her support for fellow victims of sexual harassment.[29] She also criticized Fox's attempt to force her claims to be adjudicated via closed-door mandatory arbitration rather than in court. (Fox filed court papers arguing that Carlson was compelled by her contract to adjudicate her claims in arbitration).[30] Carlson said: "Forcing victims of sexual harassment into secret arbitration proceedings is wrong, because it means nobody finds out what really happened."[30]

Facing overwhelming public criticism, Ailes resigned on July 21, 2016.[31] In an interview with Margaret Sullivan of the Washington Post, Carlson said she felt "relief that now I would be believed," though she also "felt angry that it took so long" for Ailes to step down.[32]

On September 6, 2016, 21st Century Fox Corporation (the parent company of Fox News) announced that it had settled the suit with Carlson. The settlement was reportedly $20 million. As part of the settlement, 21st Century Fox apologized to Carlson, saying that "We sincerely regret and apologize for the fact that Gretchen was not treated with the respect and dignity that she and all of our colleagues deserve."[6]

Community outreach

Carlson is a longtime supporter of Miss You Can Do It, a pageant with an emphasis "not on looks but courage."[33] Founded by Abbey Curran, a former Miss Iowa USA winner who was born with cerebral palsy, the pageant honors girls and young women who live with special needs and challenges.[34] It was the subject of an HBO documentary in 2013.

In 2016, Carlson served as the pageant's MC.[35] When its organizers fell short of their fundraising goals (threatening the cancellation of the pageant), Carlson volunteered to cover the remaining expenses. On social media, the pageant thanked her for "saving Miss You Can Do It."[36]

Personal life

On October 4, 1997, Carlson married sports agent Casey Close.[37][38] They live in Greenwich, Connecticut,[39] with their two children.[9][40]

She announced on Fox & Friends on June 9, 2009, also repeated on Glenn Beck's Fox News program, that her parents' car dealership had been selected for closure as part of the General Motors reorganization and bankruptcy.[41][42] A year later the Star Tribune reported that "It took an act of Congress, a national TV appeal and maybe a little bit of history on the owners' side, but Main Motor, the Anoka car dealership that Lee and Karen Carlson's family has owned for 91 years, will keep its General Motors dealership after all."[43]

References

  1. 1 2 Roig-Franzia, Manuel; Highman, Scott; Farhi, Paul; Thompson, Krissah (July 22, 2016). "The Fall of Roger Ailes: He Made Fox News His 'Locker Room'—and Now Women Are Telling Their Stories". Style. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 23, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  2. ↑ Carter, Bill (December 4, 2009). "For 'Today' and 'Fox and Friends,' Different Approaches on Disclosure". Media Decoder. The New York Times. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
  3. ↑ Roger Yu (July 6, 2016). "Gretchen Carlson files sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox's Roger Ailes". USA Today.
  4. ↑ Rachel Stockman (July 21, 2016). "More Than 20 Women Have Come Forward with Ailes Harassment Claims, Lawyers Say". Lawnewz with Dan Abrams.
  5. ↑ "Fox News CEO Roger Ailes Ousted After Being Sued By Ex-Anchor". Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  6. 1 2 Josh Koblin & Michael M. Grynbaum, Fox Settles With Gretchen Carlson Over Roger Ailes Sex Harassment Claims, New York Times (September 6, 2016).
  7. 1 2 3 Wilken, Erin (February 15, 2010). "Lee Carlson '56". Gustavus Adolphus College Alumni Bulletin.
  8. ↑ https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VC8P-1V9
  9. 1 2 Schafer, Jenny (June 29, 2010). "Gretchen Carlson: "I Don't Want My Kids To Grow Up Feeling Entitled"". Celebrity Baby Scoop.
  10. ↑ Morad, Amanda. "Gretchen Carlson Encourages Risk-Taking at ELS". Regent University. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Gretchen Carlson". Pageant Center. June 12, 2007. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  12. ↑ Will, George (October 25, 2009). "GOP's New Lightning Rod". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  13. 1 2 3 "Graduate Spotlight – Gretchen Carlson" (PDF). Anoka.k12. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Miss America :: History – 1989". Miss America Organization. Retrieved January 11, 2007.
  15. 1 2 Josh Koblin, How Gretchen Carlson Took On the Chief of Fox News, New York Times (July 6, 2016).
  16. ↑ Levy, Paul. "Anoka's Hall of Fame missing two big names: Keillor and Bachmann". Star Tribune. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Fox News Personalities – Gretchen Carlson". Fox News Channel. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  18. ↑ "The Real Story With Gretchen Carlson Debuts September 30". Huffington Post. November 25, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  19. ↑ Smith, Emily. "Hasselbeck ditching 'The View' for 'FOX and Friends'". New York Post. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Carlson Earns 'Worst Person' Award". News Hounds. January 11, 2007. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  21. ↑ Kurtz, Howard (January 11, 2007). "One Last Surge". The Washington Post. pp. 4 & 5. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  22. ↑ @GretchenCarlson, Twitter.com, July 6, 2016
  23. 1 2 "Gretchen Carlson files sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox News CEO Roger Ailes". Politico. July 6, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  24. ↑ Koblin, John (2016-07-06). "How Gretchen Carlson Took On the Chief of Fox News". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  25. ↑ "6 More Women Allege That Roger Ailes Sexually Harassed Them". Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  26. ↑ Koblin, John (2016-07-12). "Gretchen Carlson, Former Fox Anchor, Speaks Publicly About Sexual Harassment Lawsuit". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  27. ↑ "In Twitter Video, Gretchen Carlson Thanks Supporters". AdWeek. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  28. ↑ "Gretchen Carlson speaks out on Twitter after filing lawsuit against Roger Ailes". Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  29. ↑ Schwindt, Oriana (2016-07-19). "Gretchen Carlson Offers Support for Victims of Sexual Harassment With Twitter Video". Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  30. 1 2 "Gretchen Carlson: 'Forcing Victims Of Sexual Harassment Into Secret Arbitration Proceedings Is Wrong'". Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  31. ↑ Byers, Brian Stelter and Dylan (July 21, 2016). "Roger Ailes leaves Fox News". CNN Money.
  32. ↑ Margaret Sullivan, ‘I felt angry that it took so long’: Gretchen Carlson on Roger Ailes’s ouster from Fox News, Washington Post (July 28, 2016).
  33. ↑ "The changing face of beauty". Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  34. ↑ "Miss You Can Do It". missyoucandoit.com. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  35. ↑ "Gretchen Carlson Will Be MC at the Miss You Can Do It Pageant". FOX News Insider. 2016-06-20. Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  36. ↑ "Miss You Can Do It on Twitter". Retrieved 2016-08-03.
  37. ↑ Going Deep: Casey Close, Alan Schwarz, baseballamerica.com, February 9, 2007
  38. ↑ "Minnesota Marriage Collection, 1958–2001". Ancestry.com. Retrieved November 30, 2010.
  39. ↑ Grandjean, Patricia (November 2010). "People: Controlling Her Arc". Connecticut Magazine. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  40. ↑ "Former Michigan baseball star Casey Close remains true to himself, makes a name as a top agent". Ann Arbor News. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  41. ↑ Levy, Paul (June 16, 2009). "GM terminates contract with Anoka's Main Motors". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
  42. ↑ Froemming, Mandy Moran (June 4, 2009). "Anoka's Main Motors being cut by GM". Anoka County Union. Coon Rapids, Minnesota: ABCNewspapers.com. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
  43. ↑ Levy, Paul. Carlsons get their car franchise back, Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 6, 2010.

Bibliography

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gretchen Carlson.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Kaye Lani Rae Rafko		 Miss America
1989 		Succeeded by
Debbye Turner
Preceded by
Katherine Killeen		 Miss Minnesota
1988 		Succeeded by
Susan Johnson
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