Abby, who worked as the head of booking at Tucker Carlson Tonight, was fired from Fox News on March 24, with the company accusing her of violating instructions by disclosing information about the Dominion case in her lawsuit against Fox. The network maintains that her termination was due to poor performance, and it has vowed to defend itself against Grossberg’s “unmeritorious legal claims.” In an exclusive interview with TIME, Grossberg claims that Fox News’ pursuit of ratings combined with gender discrimination led to an environment where false information and conspiracy theories were promoted unchecked.
Grossberg alleges that Maria Bartiromo was desperate to keep her job and thus promoted baseless lies on her show. Grossberg says that Bartiromo’s relationship with former President Donald Trump, whom she interviewed extensively, gave her power over Fox News and protected her from marginalization. Grossberg also alleges that Bartiromo frequently called GOP contacts to ask what she should discuss on air. Fox News has issued a statement in support of Bartiromo, calling the allegations absurd and patently false.
Grossberg’s lawsuits shed light on the culture at Fox News and the role of producers in shaping the network’s content. The lawsuits also highlight the prevalence of misogyny at the network, which Grossberg claims made women, including herself and Bartiromo, reliant on ratings, even when it meant promoting false information. The lawsuits also raise questions about Fox News’ journalistic standards and practices and whether the network prioritizes ratings over accuracy and truthfulness.
