What is the first thing that comes to mind when one mentions Fox News? A joke? Sure. Completely unreliable and biased journalism? Certainly. Skepticism vis-à-vis the undeniable phenomenon of climate change? Absolutely. An hyper sexualized broadcast? Most definitely. However, up until 2016, sexual harassment were two words we would not immediately think to add on to the list.
In his latest movie, Bombshell, Jay Roach brings to light the depths of the 2016 Fox News harassment scandal. Released on December 13th of 2019, this American biographical drama stars, among others, Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron and John Lithgow. In little over a month, Bombshell was nominated for over 50 awards, including three nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards.
The customizing is remarkable, the actors’ performance is clean and convincing. Most importantly, the plot is both stirring and surprising, so much so that it makes it hard to believe such injustice could have ever seen the light of day. But then again, it is Fox News, and unfortunately these stories are very much real. More than a slightly humorous drama, Bombshell is a real-life horror story that will make you leave the theater debating whether you should laugh or cry about how long of a road women have yet to travel in order to achieve equality. Even more impressively, it shall rock your perception of the network’s women to the core, transforming them into none other than admirable warriors, worthy of great respect.
The real-life scandal behind the plot
Let us dig a little deeper into the real scandal that inspired Bombshell.
If you are somewhere between the ages of seventeen and ninety, you might have heard of Roger Ailes: famous American television executive and media consultant for Republican presidents R. Nixon, R. Reagan and G. W. Bush. Among other positions, Ailes was chairman and CEO of the one and only Fox News.
The bigger they are, the harder they fall, or so they say. It wasn’t until 2016 that allegations of sexual assault against Fox’s mastermind came out to the public. Behind them was Gretchen Carlson (played by Nicole Kidman), former co-host of the popular show Fox & Friends. After being let go of the network in 2016, Carlson filed a lawsuit against Ailes for “severe and persistent sexual harassment”, as well as sabotaging her career in a twisted vendetta for refusing his advances. When confronted directly by Carlson, about the treatment she had been receiving, he simply responded “I think you and I should have had a sexual relationship a long time ago and then you’d be good and better and I’d be good and better.”
After filing the complaint Carlson patiently waited on the sidelines, hoping that other women would come forward with claims of their own, boosting her credibility and suit.
To speak out or not to speak out? The classic dilemma between one’s career and physical integrity
At first, hope was scarce, as other victims struggled to speak out, debating whether or not they were willing to sacrifice their careers, their salaries, or their dreams, for the not so obvious possibility of being compensated for serving the greater good. Among them is another woman who’s name might ring a bell: Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron). You might remember Kelly as the Fox News anchor who dared to confront Trump on his sexist controversial comments regarding women. Following her audacity, she had to deal with a full year of harassment, fueled by the President himself, and with her menstrual cycle becoming the talk of the nation. Unsurprisingly, she was not so eager to come forward about the harassment she had undergone at the beginning of her career, and risk tanking what was left of her career.
Eventually, Ailes’ downfall was eminent, as at least twenty women spoke out about the harassment they went through at Fox, and especially at his hands. Bombshell goes more into detail about the depths of the harassment through Kayla (Margot Robbie), a fictional character and rising star, with a promising career ahead of her. While the harassment her character goes through is severe, it is nowhere near close to that of stories that surfaced in 2016. Laurie Luhn, former FN booker, was sexually harassed and ‘psychologically tortured’ for more than twenty years. After being non-consensually videotaped, Ailes used the footage to blackmail her into pressuring other women into situations in which he could harass them.
Misogynistic culture at Fox News
Furthermore, Bombshell accurately strives to represent the strong culture of misogyny at Fox News. From the very start of the film, the spectator is introduced to a detailed description of the network’s internal hierarchy. Moreover, it brings out sordid yet ordinary practices imposed by Ailes.
As portrayed in the movie, Ailes hand-picked and hired skinny, blonde, long-legged women, while also demanding that their desks be see-through, in order to make their legs stand out in on-camera shows. Among other confirmed details, is the fact that Roger often asked women to take a turn while being interviewed for a job, while encouraging them to wear skirts instead of pants.
Fifty shades of justice
As you get through the movie you might be overwhelmed with a feeling of anguish and injustice. Although Ailes ends up being fired, he is never truly convicted. A bitter ending, to say the least. Part of the reason why the case never went to trial is that Fox News employment contracts prevent people in power to ever be convicted.
When taking her job at the network, Gretchen Carlson had to sign a non-disclosure agreement and a mandatory arbitration agreement that barred her from talking about her experiences publicly and forced her to take legal disputes into arbitration rather than to open court. In other words, Ailes could never have gone to jail because Carlson could not even take him to trial in the first place. Carlson further explained in a Time cover-story how women often risk severe professional consequences by coming forward with claims of abuse. This kind of legal strategies not only ensures bad behaviors will remain secret, it also allows perpetrators to remain in power.
After being confronted with these stories, many people will claim these women took advantage of the harassment, used it to climb up the social scale. Perhaps, this is a time to be reminded that no sexual act made under pressure, blackmail or threat can ever be considered consensual. Perhaps, this is a time to ask ourselves why women still need to make a choice between their careers and their physical integrity. Perhaps this is a time to wonder why predators remain in power.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, sexual harassment at work is not something to be normalised nor accepted, not in power, not from the president, and not even at Fox News, no matter how little you might expect from them.
©All rights reserved Mariana de Abreu
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