Andrea Tantaros Claims Females Secretly Recorded Disrobing

Andres Tantaros

Andrea Tantaros, the former Fox News Channel star, is aiming to move forward in a lawsuit that alleges her former employer electronically surveilled and harassed her, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

In a proposed amended complaint filed Monday, she includes new allegations, such as how Fox News had a closed-circuit television network that allowed its former chief Roger Ailes to monitor offices, including ones where most Fox female talent disrobed daily.

"There was also a bi-annual trunk show in the Spring and Fall conducted by Fox’s wardrobe department," states the amended complaint. "The trunk show was held in empty Fox offices and female talent was expected to disrobe down to their undergarments to try on new on-air dresses for the next season, without even the benefit of a curtain. The dresses were pre-selected for the women by the wardrobe department before their arrival; pants were not an option. Upon information and belief, Ailes was recording female employees disrobe without their consent in their offices and during the bi-annual trunk show."

The amended complaint is the latest in a nine-month-old lawsuit with messy origins.

In New York state court, Tantaros first sued for alleged retaliation in August 2016. But a judge then ruled her complaint alleging the network "operated like a sex-fueled, Playboy Mansion-like cult" was covered under the arbitration clause of her employment contract. So Tantaros next tried in April 2017 a second lawsuit in federal court alleging she was victim to torturing via hacking and social media stalking. At the time, she was represented by attorney Judd Burstein.

In the last few months, Tantaros has been represented by new attorneys at Morgan Lewis, who were threatened by Fox News for participating in the case.

On Monday, Morgan Lewis attorney Christopher Parlo told the judge in a letter that the firm will no longer be Tantaros' counsel but is nevertheless assisting her in the transition to representing herself. Tantaros, now operating pro se, is seeking the judge's permission for an amended complaint.