Kimberly Guilfoyle was reportedly the subject of an internal investigation at Fox News for sexual misconduct and inappropriate workplace behavior before she departed the network last week
When it was announced ‘The Five’ co-host would be leaving to help her boyfriend, Donald Trump Jr., campaign for the Republicans during the 2018 midterms, it was billed as her decision — but rumors to the contrary started to swirl almost immediately.
According to a new Huffington Post report — built on a year’s worth of interviews with 21 anonymous sources at Fox News and parent company 21st Century Fox — Guilfoyle’s exit was actually prompted by a slew of misconduct allegations, which include showing off personal pictures of male genitalia to her co-workers and then “identifying whose genitals they were.”
Sources also alleged that she regularly discussed her sex life at work and was emotionally abusive toward hair and makeup artists as well as support staff.
Guilfoyle for years also shared a young assistant with former Fox News personality, Eric Bolling, who was ousted from the network following reports that he’d sent unsolicited and inappropriate photos to his female co-workers. Three sources told Huffington Post the assistant “was deeply unhappy at work” — desperate to escape her boss’ behavior and “attempts to involve her in her personal sexual matters by regularly sharing details about her sex life.”
The staffer was eventually transferred to another department and then put on paid leave when she hired an attorney to address her concerns with the network.
Guilfoyle also regularly railed against other woman working at the station and often criticized Jeanine Pirro for being too old to be on television, according to sources. The 67-year-old judge is the host of the popular show “Justice with Judge Jeanine.”
She reportedly received a “stern warning” over her behavior from Kevin Lord, the head of Fox News HR in the fall of 2017. And following an internal investigation into her conduct, which kicked off last year, the television personality was asked to exit the network by July, Huffington Post reported.
She tried to delay her impending departure, sources said, at one point appealing to Rupert Murdoch, the chair of Fox News’ parent company, to allow her to remain. Staff feared her ties to the Trump family and her relationship with the President’s eldest son would prevent her exit, but he network confirmed her departure on July 20 with a brief and vague statement.
“Fox News has parted ways with Kimberly Guilfoyle,” it read.
Sources told Huffington Post it’s fairly typical for the network to pressure staff into resigning rather than firing them so to avoid any negative press and general fallout.
Her attorney, John Singer, pushed back against the allegations in a statement, claiming Guilfoyle’s former co-workers are only interested in financial gain.
“Any accusations of Kimberly engaging in inappropriate work-place conduct are unequivocally baseless and have been viciously made by disgruntled and self-interested employees,” he said. “During her lengthy and decorated tenure with the company, Kimberly was beloved, well-respected, and supportive of anyone she ever met.”
Guilfoyle, who worked with Fox News for more than a decade, also sparked controversy last year when she defended her former boss, Roger Ailes against several claims of sexual harassment.
(Excerpt) Read more in: NY Daily News