Britt McHenry has settled her lawsuit against Fox News, in which she alleged she was sexually harassed by former Fox Nation co-host Tyrus and was then frozen out by the network after she complained.
McHenry voluntarily dismissed the suit she filed against Fox News in December 2019, which had sought unspecified damages.
Two sources familiar with the case told The Daily Beast that McHenry settled the lawsuit on Monday, likely after an undisclosed cash payment and a nondisclosure agreement.
It is believed she will now leave the network and Fox Nation, the network’s online streaming service, but will continue working as an on-air analyst for Fox 5, the station’s Washington D.C. affiliate, the Beast reported.
In her lawsuit, filed in New York district court, the 35-year-old claimed she ‘suffered humiliation, emotional anguish, derailment of her career and significant loss of economic opportunities’ after she raised concerns about Tyrus, a former WWE wrestler whose real name is George Murdoch.
McHenry had alleged that for months in 2018 Tyrus sent her sexually explicit text messages as they both worked on their show Un-PC. She said when she complained, Fox Nation executive Jennifer Rauchet, who was also named in the lawsuit, told her she was ‘replaceable.’
Tyrus had denied the allegations. In 2019, Fox said: ‘We are confident our actions will be deemed entirely appropriate in litigation. We expect all of her claims to be dismissed.’
Britt McHenry has voluntarily dismissed a lawsuit she filed against Fox News in December 2019
In her lawsuit, the 35-year-old claimed that the news network damaged her career after she said she was sexually harassed by her co-host Tyrus, whose real name is George Murdoch (pictured)
After dismissing her lawsuit, McHenry told The Daily Beast: ‘I am very proud to have to stood up for my rights and hope that I have empowered other women to do the same.
‘Although I fully stand by the truth of my allegations, I am pleased to put this matter behind me and move forward with my career.’
Fox News Media told the outlet: ‘While Fox News is confident it would have prevailed in the lawsuit, we are pleased that we have been able to resolve this matter without further litigation.’
While Tyrus did not publicly comment on the settlement, his attorney Tom Clare said in a statement that he is ‘pleased that the parties have reached a settlement in which the claims against him will be dismissed with prejudice.’
He added: ‘Tyrus continues to dispute and deny the allegations made against him in the lawsuit and, consistent with that view, will not be making any financial payments.’
McHenry, a former ESPN host of Arlington, Virginia, alleged that for months in 2018 that Tyrus sent her sexually explicit text messages as they both worked on their show Un-PC
Fox News has maintained throughout the proceedings that McHenry’s claims were made ‘without merit.’
McHenry claimed in the lawsuit that Tyrus became hostile after he found out she had a boyfriend. She was rumored to be dating tennis star Tennys Sandgren in 2018, but appeared to be dating another man after filing the lawsuit in December 2019.
In addition to Tyrus and Rauchet, other defendants included Fox Entertainment Group, Fox Corp, News Corp, Fox Nation boss John Finley and human resources executive, Monica Mekeel.
‘Since her sexual harassment complaint, Ms. McHenry has been effectively frozen out by Fox News management,’ the lawsuit had argued.
‘In the past, Fox News managers and executives would check in with Ms. McHenry or stop in to watch her show, but she has not heard from any of them since making her sexual harassment complaint.’
Fox Nation boss John Finley (left) and executive producer Jennifer Rauchet (right) were also named as defendants in the lawsuit. Rauchet allegedly told McHenry she was ‘replaceable’
After she complained, the lawsuit said that the network retaliated to her by shunning her and excluding her from company events and shows. She listed in the lawsuit a specific interaction in which she brought her concerns to Rauchet, who told her ‘Fox News had never wanted her’ and ‘When Ms. McHenry tried to continue the conversation, Ms. Rauchet physically walked out on her.’
The lawsuit also pointed to how the network responded to claims against Bill O’Reilly and former boss Roger Ailes, arguing that ‘since its inception and continuing to today, Fox News has had a sexual harassment problem.’
At the time of the lawsuit filing, a Fox News spokesperson said to the Daily Mail, ‘As we have previously stated, Ms. McHenry’s allegations have been fully investigated and we are confident our actions will be deemed entirely appropriate in litigation. We expect all of her claims to be dismissed.’
Tyrus motioned to dismiss the case late last year, but a federal judge denied his plea and moved McHenry’s case forward.
After filing her case in 2019, McHenry significantly decreased her involvement with Fox News while Tyrus only furthered his career with the network and was given his own show Nuff Said.
He also became a frequent co-panelist on Greg Gutfeld’s late night show, which replaced Shannon Bream’s 11pm weeknight slot. He has also made regular appearances on The Five and Outnumbered.