Recently fired Fox News producer reveals details about network
Introduction
Abby Grossberg, a former senior producer at Fox News, has provided further insights into her time at the network, shedding light on behind-the-scenes details. Grossberg claims that after the 2020 presidential election, fact-checking at the network was curtailed and that show host Maria Bartiromo was encouraged to “go wild” without any fact-checking.
Claims of a change in approach
Grossberg, who is currently suing Fox News, stated in an interview with NBC News that her boss’s text message indicated a change in approach at the network. She paraphrased the message, saying, “You can let Maria know there will be no fact-checking today. She can do what she wants… Go wild.” Grossberg believes that this sudden shift in attitude demonstrated a lack of responsibility among the individuals responsible for programming at Fox News.
Allegations against Fox News executives
Grossberg alleges that she was set up to take undue blame in the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit against Fox News. She claims to have heard Fox News executives making derogatory comments about Bartiromo, including calling her “crazy,” “menopausal,” and “hysterical.” Grossberg stated that she was present in meetings where executives laughed about tearing apart politicians, and she now believes that they were also talking about her.
Relationship with Maria Bartiromo
Grossberg had built a strong relationship with Maria Bartiromo, and the two clicked instantly. Grossberg mentioned that their ratings were skyrocketing, indicating the success of their collaboration. However, she claims that their working relationship was marred by the toxic environment created by Fox News executives.
Fox News response and legal claims
A spokesperson for Fox News dismissed Grossberg’s legal claims as “unmeritorious” and “riddled with false allegations.” The network denies her accusations against them and their employees. Grossberg was initially put on administrative leave and subsequently fired by Fox News, with the network accusing her of disclosing privileged company information without authorization.
Grossberg’s lawsuits against Fox News
Grossberg has filed two lawsuits against Fox News, one in New York and another in Delaware. In these lawsuits, she accuses the network of using her as a scapegoat in the ongoing defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems. Initially, Fox News countersued Grossberg, seeking a gag order, but dropped the suit after terminating her employment. Grossberg had been working on “Tucker Carlson Tonight” when she filed her lawsuit against the network.
Coercion and sexism allegations
In her lawsuit, Grossberg claims that she was coerced and intimidated by Fox News lawyers prior to giving her testimony in the Dominion case. She alleges that the network wanted to position her and Bartiromo as the ones to blame for airing false conspiracy theories about Dominion rigging the 2020 election. Grossberg also asserts that she faced sexism during her time at Fox News. After moving to Tucker Carlson’s show, she witnessed sexist jokes and was even asked about Bartiromo’s sex life. Grossberg states that Carlson’s staff frequently made sexist and antisemitic jokes.
Understaffing and false claims of election fraud
Grossberg claims that understaffing on Bartiromo’s show made it impossible to properly vet false claims of election fraud. Despite the potential for spreading falsehoods, Fox News executives were aware that she was booking figures like Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell for Bartiromo’s Sunday morning show.
Conclusion
The revelations made by Abby Grossberg shed light on the inner workings of Fox News and raise questions about the network’s approach to fact-checking and accountability. Grossberg’s legal battle against Fox News will likely continue to uncover more details about the alleged mistreatment and toxic environment at the network.