NEW YORK, NY. (THECOUNT) — It was last July former Fox News host Britt McHenry made accusations against her co-host, Tyrus, aka, George Murdoch, saying the former wrestler sent her inappropriate text messages. And now McHenry has leveled a lawsuit against Fox News and Tyrus.
McHenry, who calls Fox News a “sanctuary for sexual harassers,” says in her suit that the company’s “zero tolerance” policy against sexual harassment only benefitted Tyrus after she complained about to HR about harassment on four separate occasions.
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According to docs obtained by TMZ, McHenry claims the network refused to investigate some of her claims, shunned her, shut her out of company events and refused to allow her to appear as a guest on other Fox News shows – following claims she made accusing Tyrus of sending her “unwanted and unsolicited text messages with lewd, sexual comments.”
She also claims after she complained, the network retaliated by giving Tyrus his own show and her the boot.
Fox News issued a statement at the conclusion of their investigation into McHenry’s claims against Tyrus:
“While we are not at liberty to discuss the details of any employee matter, we follow strict protocols when matters such as these are brought to our attention, and we make no exceptions. The process works because of the extensive systems and measures we have instituted,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “This situation was independently investigated and we consider the matter resolved. We respect the confidentiality of all involved.”
In the suit, she says Fox never disciplined Tyrus because when interviewed about McHenry’s claims, he said it was McHenry who was sending him risque text messages.
She claims the retaliation is a result of her blowing the whistle on Tyrus — a former pro wrestler — who she claims crudely sexually harassed her in 2018 with text messages that included threats of a d**k pic, and comments about her butt and legs, reports TMZ.
TMZ says, Fox never disciplined Tyrus because he showed investigators photos and texts sent to him by McHenry showing her cleavage and semi-bare breast.
McHenry claims in the suit that the pics and texts were “doctored” and “not really her.”
Tyrus told me he left "UN-PC" because he wanted to host his own show but then blocked me when I asked him if his departure was connected to Britt McHenry. If you know more, please reach out. https://t.co/h1POzR8VHW pic.twitter.com/q8vk0hAM2u
— Jeremy Barr (@jeremymbarr) June 4, 2019
McHenry filed an initial sexual harassment complaint with New York State’s Division of Human Rights, TMZ reported in 2018.
In the new lawsuit, Britt says even after payouts of over $100 million (Bill O’Reilly, etc,) in recent sexual harassment scandals, “Fox News remains a sanctuary for sexual harassers, coddling and enabling the men who abuse female employees.”
McHenry, the Burlington County native and former ESPN personality turned conservative commentator, was co-host of “Un-PC” in November of 2018 alongside former WWE star Tyrus. He was replaced with former Red Eye host Tom Shillue following McHenry’s claims.
Tyrus has since garnered his own show “NUFF SAID” on Fox Nation and is a regular commentator on several Fox News shows. Ingrid Rinick is his longtime girlfriend. His net worth is estimated to be around $2 million.
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