Fox News to pay $20million and issue public apology to Gretchen Carlson

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Gretchen Carlson has hired a new publicist, in the wake of her settlement with Fox News over claims she was sexually harassed by Roger Ailes
Her new PR firm told the Hollywood Reporter that they would be leading the next phase in Carlson's career
That phase will 'include a television presence, penning a book, speaking engagements and philanthropy'
Roger Ailes' lawyer says he will not pay any part of the $20million settlement
Ailes stepped down from his position in July, amid the allegations that he cancelled Carlson's program when she refused his sexual advances
The network also issued a formal apology to Carlson on Tuesday
Company has also settled with two other women, according to Vanity Fair
Ailes supporter Greta Van Sustern is leaving the network, and will be replaced by Brit Hume

Published: 08:16 EST, 6 September 2016 | Updated: 14:04 EST, 6 September 2016

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Just hours after it was announced that Fox News would be paying $20million to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit with Gretchen Carlson, the former network anchor hired a major celebrity publicist to craft her second career.

Carlson has hired Cindi Berger of PMK*BNC to handle all aspects of her personal public relations, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The company told HR that the next phase in Carlson's career will 'include a television presence, penning a book, speaking engagements and philanthropy'.

Berger has previously represented Lena Dunham, Barbara Walters, Robert Redford and Rosie O'Donnell.

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Fox News has reportedly agreed to pay $20million to settle a lawsuit from Gretchen Carlson (left) against the network's former CEO and president Roger Ailes (right)

Earlier on Tuesday, 21st Century Fox issued a public apology to Carlson and promised to pay her $20million to set a lawsuit against disgraced former network president Roger Ailes.

FULL STATEMENT FROM 21ST CENTURY FOX AND GRETCHEN CARLSON'S RESPONSE

21st Century Fox is pleased to announce that it has settled Gretchen Carlson’s lawsuit. During her tenure at Fox News, Gretchen exhibited the highest standards of journalism and professionalism. She developed a loyal audience and was a daily source of information for many Americans. We are proud that she was part of the Fox News team. We sincerely regret and apologize for the fact that Gretchen was not treated with the respect and dignity that she and all of our colleagues deserve.”

Ms Carlson issued the following statement:

I am gratified that 21st Century Fox took decisive action after I filed my Complaint. I’m ready to move on to the next chapter of my life in which I will redouble my efforts to empower women in the workplace. I want to thank all the brave women who came forward to tell their own stories and the many people across the country who embraced and supported me in their #StandWithGretchen. All women deserve a dignified and respectful workplace in which talent, hard work and loyalty are recognized, revered and rewarded.

'We sincerely regret and apologize for the fact that Gretchen was not treated with the respect that she and all our colleagues deserve,' the statement from 21st Century Fox, Fox News' parent company, reads.

Carlson claimed in the lawsuit that Ailes cancelled her show when she rebuffed his sexual advances. Ailes says he will not be paying any portion of the settlement.

The network is eager to get the lawsuit behind them as the presidential race enters enters its final stretch, and it seeks to resign major anchors' contracts, including Megyn Kelly.

Carlson issued a public statement through 21st Century Fox, saying she was 'gratified' with the 'decisive action' on Ailes.

'I’m ready to move on to the next chapter of my life in which I will redouble my efforts to empower women in the workplace,' she said.

In exchange, Carlson has agreed to drop the lawsuit against Ailes and will not bring up any new suits against the company or any of its employees.

Carlson voluntarily dropped the lawsuit against her former boss in a new court filing, Reuters confirmed.

It was also announced on Tuesday that Ailes-supporter Greta Van Sustern is leaving the network. Her hour-long spot on the network will be filled by Brit Hume, Fox News senior political analyst.

Like many anchors at the network, Van Sustern had a clause in her contract allowing her to renegotiate her contract if Ailes left the network. She decided to exercise that right, and when the negotiations deadlocked, she decided to leave.

Just one day before the news of the settlement was announced, Carlson posted pictures to Twitter of her vacation to Croatia

'Fox has not felt like home to me for a few years and I took advantage of the clause in my contract which allows me to leave now,' Van Sustern said in a statement.

Fox News is settling the lawsuit on behalf of Ailes, just two months after the longtime CEO and president of the network was forced to resign in the wake of the allegations. New York Magazine reported that Ailes agreed to pay part of the settlement, but that report was later shot down by Ailes' lawyer who said he 'did not contribute'.

The company has also reached settlements with two other women with regards to Ailes, according to Vanity Fair.

The decision to settle with Carlson comes just days after New York Magazine published a story by Sherman, in which it was reported that Carlson had been secretly recording her conversations with Ailes since 2014. Now that the she has settled, it's likely those recordings will never see the light of day.

Ailes' supporter Greta Van Sustern (left) is reportedly leaving the network, and will be replaced in her one hour spot by Brit Hume (right)

GRETA VAN SUSTEREN'S STATEMENT ON FOX NEWS EXIT

Yes, I have left the Fox News Channel.

On Thursday night, I made my decision and informed Fox News of my decision that I was leaving Fox News Channel per my contract.

Fox has not felt like home to me for a few years and I took advantage of the clause in my contract which allows me to leave now.

The clause had a time limitation, meaning I could not wait. I love my staff, I love my colleagues, and I love the crews.

That is the hardest part of this decision as they are wonderful people.

And most of all? I love the viewers -- even the ones who have gotten mad at me over the years and taken swipes.

I hope to continue my career in broadcasting.

After Carlson went public with her claims against Ailes in July, several other women spoke to outside lawyers hired by Fox News with similar stories of sexual harassment.

Carlson, who is currently on vacation in Croatia, co-anchored Fox & Friends for seven years before she left to anchor her own one-hour program for the network. That show, The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson, was cancelled this year. She tweeted on July 6 that she was no longer with the network, and that day she filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Ailes.

In the lawsuit, Carlson claimed she was fired from her own program for refusing Ailes' sexual advances.