Page 29 - AT

A29
PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 4 noveMber 2019

Gretchen Carlson wants to speak

freely about Fox News tenure

By JOHN CARUCCI
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — When
Gretchen Carlson heard
that NBC News was consid-
ering letting people out of
their non-disclosure agree-
ments involving alleged
sexual misconduct at the
network, she couldn't help
but think of the NDA she
signed with Fox News be-
In this Jan. 27, 2018 file fore her departure three
photo, Olivia Newton-John years ago.
attends the 2018 G'Day USA "It would be nice to be able
Los Angeles Gala at the to be able to tell my full sto-
InterContinental Hotel Los ry," Carlson said.
Angeles. She's hoping one day she
Associated Press
can. The newswoman says
she's asked to be let out
Olivia of her NDA and talked to

Newton- other Fox News employees
who left with similar settle-
John's ments about pressing the
network to be let out of the
final 'Grease' agreements.
"Companies are saying
ensemble that they want to be open
and transparent and that
fetches they have worked tirelessly
to make their work environ-
$405K ments safer," she told The This Oct. 31, 2019 photo shows former Fox News personality Gretchen Carlson during an interview
in New York.
Associated Press. "And if
Associated Press
that's the truth, then they denies any wrongdoing. mentary "Breaking the Si- ects are even happening is
BEVERLY HILLS, California should let us out." Pulitzer Prize-winner Ronan lence" about sexual harass- really, really important be-
(AP) — Two collectors said Carlson got a reported $20 Farrow detailed more ac- ment earlier this year. cause it continues the na-
you're the one that I want million settlement in 2016 cusations against Lauer She has also been advo- tional dialogue about this
to Olivia Newton-John's after she sued the network, and also accused the net- cating for legislation that issue," Carlson said. "And if
iconic "Grease" leather claiming late Fox News work of thwarting his inves- would bar arbitration from even one woman is helped
jacket and skintight pants chief Roger Ailes demoted tigations into Weinstein in being used in sexual ha- from watching one of these
at an auction Saturday in then fired her when she re- his new book "Catch and rassment cases. projects and decides to
Beverly Hills. jected his sexual advances. Kill," prompting MSNBC host Carlson's allegations have have the courage to come
Julien's Auctions says the Besides her settlement, Rachel Maddow to point- been the basis of two Hol- forward, then these proj-
combined ensemble, she got a public apology, edly call on NBC to release lywood projects this year: ects are a good idea."
which Newton-John's which Carlson said was people from their NDAs . Showtime's "The Loudest Carlson said she is amazed
character Sandy wears in key: "That usually doesn't NBC said anyone interest- Voice" series, which aired at how much progress has
the closing number of the happen when you come ed in being released from earlier this year, and the happened regarding sexu-
1978 film, fetched $405,700 to some sort of an agree- their NDA should reach out upcoming film "Bombshell," al harassment cases in just
total. ment. Some would say that to the network and it would with Nicole Kidman starring three years.
The leather jacket sold for that would be an admis- consider doing so, but Carl- as Carlson. "Women are now believed.
$243,200 and the pants, sion of guilt." son said that didn't go far Carlson was not involved in Imagine that when they
which Newton-John fa- Fox News did not return an enough. either. come forward, they're not
mously had to be sewn email seeking comment. "It wasn't completely clear "Therein is the frustration automatically maligned
into, went for $162,500. Carlson's case predated whether or not these former and the strangeness of not like I was. Perpetrators are
Other "Grease" memora- sexual misconduct allega- victims can tell all," Carlson being able to partake in being held accountable.
bilia included a Pink Ladies tions against movie mo- told the AP. "For example, really big projects that are There are consequences.
jacket that went for $50,000 gul Harvey Weinstein by a they have to go back and about something so per- There are almost immedi-
and a poster signed by year. One of the scandal's ask permission. And does sonal and painful in your ate apologies." she said.
Newton-John, John Travol- revelations was how Wein- that mean that they can life," she said. "I mean, to think that that
ta, director Randal Kleiser stein used NDAs to silence say some things, but they "But I have to look at it from much has transformed in
and producer and song- women who accused him can't say other things? So the big picture, because just a short period of time is
writer John Farrar, which of abuse. His downfall led I think there needs to be a the idea that these proj- really amazing."q
sold for $64,000. to the #MeToo movement little bit more clarification
The proceeds from the that toppled scores of fa- on that."
jacket and pants, as well mous and powerful men. Since her departure from
as a portion of the other Matt Lauer, the former an- Fox, Carlson has become
items sold, will go the Olivia chor at the "Today" show, an advocate for women,
Newton-John Cancer Well- was one of them. He was from writing books like "Be
ness & Research Centre in fired by NBC News in 2017 Fierce" to producing and
Australia.q for sexual misconduct; he hosting the Lifetime docu- linda.reijnders@cspnv.com