Gretchen Carlson: Roger Ailes' Harassment Was 'Continuous'

Gretchen Carlson with her attorneys

Gretchen Carlson, the former Fox News host who has accused Roger Ailes of sexual harassment, says she had at least six interviews with her former boss in which he talked about her body and heard -- but ignored -- her complaints of mistreatment.

In an interview with The New York Times, her first since bringing allegations against Ailes, the former Fox & Friends host said Ailes' demeaning language was "continuous," and described being "intimidated" by both him and the workplace culture.

"Everyone knew how powerful Roger Ailes was. I certainly felt intimidated by that," Carlson told the Times. "The culture of 'Fox and Friends' was intimidating to me."

Roger Ailes

According to Dylan Byers at CNNMoney, Carlson's lawsuit, which was filed earlier this month, claims that Ailes made sexual advances, specifically saying, "I think you and I should have had a sexual relationship a long time ago." The lawsuit also claims that Carlson was fired because of her complaints.

Ailes has denied all the charges, and said that because of poor ratings her contract was not renewed.

Carlson said any ratings weakness was not brought up to her, nor was she told about it when she was let go.

“It was cold and calculating,” she said of the meeting in June when she was informed her contract would not be renewed. “It took 30 seconds, there was no ‘Thank you for your service of 11 years,’ and there was absolutely no discussion of ratings.”

The 50-year-old Carlson told the Times she had "between six and ten" meetings with Ailes in which he used demeaning language and harassed her.

In a statement, Fox News spokesperson Irena Briganti said Carlson "never filed a formal complaint about sexual harassment to the H.R. department or to the legal department."

Ailes, the chairman and CEO of Fox News, has previously called Carlson's allegations false, and described them as retaliation "for the network's decision not to renew her contract, which was due to the fact that her disappointingly low ratings were dragging down the afternoon lineup."

Meanwhile, in the New Jersey Superior Court, Ailes' lawyers have filed a motion requesting that the case be moved to arbitration in a federal court, on the grounds that Carlson is contractually bound to arbitration.

A judge is set to rule on that motion on August 1.