EXCLUSIVE: Veteran news reporter says she was denied a job at Fox News after Roger Ailes called her SENATOR ex-boyfriend following her interview to ask 'how's the sex?' and if she would 'put out'
- Veteran news reporter Lidia Curanaj filed a civil complaint against Fox TV Stations accusing the media company of discrimination on Tuesday
- In 2011 she had an interview with Roger Ailes for a position with Fox News Channel, but didn't get the position
- She says Ailes called her ex-boyfriend, New York Sen Gregory Ball, to ask details about her sex life and whether or not she would 'put out'
- Ball told Ailes that Curanaj was a nice girl and implied she would not 'put out'
- Months later, she earned a position at FOX5, but was told she 'wasn't attractive enough' to be an anchor
- After she filed a notice of her claims of unlawful discrimination on November 8, FOX5 significantly cut her hours and now she only works two days a week
A veteran news reporter claims that Roger Ailes wouldn't give her a position at Fox News after her ex-boyfriend told the now-disgraced media mogul that she wouldn't 'put out'.
Lidia Curanaj, filed a civil complaint against Fox TV Stations accusing it of discrimination on Tuesday, five years after having an interview with Fox News Channel in 2011.
Curanaj says that though she felt she had a successful interview, she was not offered a position after Ailes called her ex-boyfriend, New York State Senator Gregory Ball, to ask details about her sex life and whether or not she would 'put out', according to court documents obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com.
The veteran reporter, who has previously worked for News 12 Westchester, Fox Carolina and CBS as a reporter, anchor and network producer, says she first met Ailes at a dinner she attended with Ball.
Veteran news reporter Lidia Curanaj filed a civil complaint against Fox TV Stations accusing the media company of discrimination on Tuesday. In 2011 she had an interview with Roger Ailes for a position with Fox News Channel, but didn't get the position
It was at the dinner that he offered to bring her in for an interview for a position with Fox News Channel (FNC).
After meeting several employees and taking part in a group interview, Ailes interviewed her privately in his office, where he sat directly next to her on his couch, Curanaj says.
She says that Ailes explained what he described FNC's 'recipe for success', in which women were shown 'from the feet up', meaning their legs would be visible to the TV audience.
Ailes said that for that reason, it is 'important [for female talent] to look good from head to toe', according to court documents.
Curanaj says that Ailes called her ex-boyfriend, New York Sen Gregory Ball (pictured), to ask details about her sex life and whether or not she would 'put out'
Curanaj claims that Ailes asked her to stand up and 'turn around', so he could see her from behind.
She says that the request made her uncomfortable, but she did as requested and quickly sat back down.
Following the meeting, Curanaj says that Ailes reached out Ball, who she had previously dated, and asked if she would 'put out'. He also asked, 'How's the sex?', according to court documents.
Ball told Ailes that Curanaj was a nice girl and implied that she would not 'put out'.
Ailes then called Curanaj and told her that he didn't believe she was ready to work for the network and suggested that she try to work for local Fox stations.
Curanaj believes, however, that she did not receive the position because she would not submit to Ailes sexually.
Then in November 2011, Curanaj was hired by Fox as a general assignment reporter for FOX5, where she told general manager Byron Harmon that she wanted to be considered for a full time position with a contract.
Despite his praise of Curanaj's work, Harmon hired Liz Dahlem, a woman who had less experience and was eight years younger than the veteran reporter.
When Curanaj eventually got a job at FOX5, a full time position was given to Liz Dahlem (pictured), a woman who had less experience and was eight years younger than the veteran reporter
While she did get a test run as an anchor, Harmon told her she was not special or attractive enough to be an anchor, Curanaj, who has extensive anchor experience, claims.
'In addition to repeatedly expressing his belief that Ms Curanaj is generally unattractive, Harmon often tells Ms Curanaj that she "looks like s***" or that she "looks sick",' court documents say.
FOX5 manager Byron Harmon (pictured) told Curanaj she wasn't 'attractive enough' to be an anchor for the station, according to legal documents
Harmon told her that anchors must be 'very attractive', according to court documents.
The lawsuit says: 'Ms. Curanaj was upset and offended by Harmon's discriminatory statements, and asked him whether he thought she needed plastic surgery, and whether her nose was a problem for him.
'Specifically, Ms. Curanaj offered to undergo rhinoplasty, take voice lessons and meet with a professional makeup artist, in an attempt to have the chance to anchor. Harmon responded by merely shrugging his shoulders.'
To make matters worse, Harmon then made a number of offensive and discriminatory comments about Curanaj's nationality and referred to her as 'Ms Albania', according to court documents.
'Obviously, Harmon does not believe that Ms. Curanaj is capable of succeeding in a professional environment because he believed that she is Albanian – notwithstanding the fact that his bias and prejudice was more evident due to his apparent "confusion" between the two Balkan countries,' court documents say.
Curanaj filed a notice of her claims of unlawful discrimination on November 8, and says that in retaliation, FOX5 has significantly cut her hours and now she only works two days a week.
She filed suit against Fox TV Stations as well as Harmon accusing them of discrimination and creating a hostile work environment.
She is demanding unspecified damages for the mental anguish and emotional distress that the network caused her along with compensation for the embarrassment, stress, anxiety, loss of self-esteem and self confidence, as well as other physical and mental injuries.
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