Now that Fox News Network has booted The O'Reilly Factor, are they planning to replace it with The Jim Crow Factor?
Seven employees of the conservative news network are gearing up to join in the filing of a racial discrimination suit, originally filed by two fellow colleagues last month.
The allegations contained in the suit include an accusation that longtime Fox comptroller Judy Slater subjected black employees to years of racist insults and behaviors, according to New York Magazine.
One particularly egregious allegation?
Apparently Slater forced black female employees to hold arm wrestling matches against white female employees while at the office.
“Forcing a black woman employee to ‘fight’ for the amusement and pleasure of her white superiors is horrifying. This highly offensive and humiliating act is reminiscent of Jim Crow era battle royals,” lawyers for the black employees wrote in a letter to the network. The lawyers also wrote that accounting director Tammy Efinger spoke openly about wanting to “fight” a black employee.
Following an investigation into the racism allegations, Fox fired Slater in late March. A call to terminate Efinger is also in the works.
“Not once did Ms. Efinger step in or attempt to interfere with Ms. Slater’s outrageous conduct,” attorneys said. Instead, “Ms. Efinger chose to laugh or giggle following Ms. Slater’s vitriol.”
Unfortunately, these allegations are just another ingredient to Fox News' employee harassment casserole. The network is already under heat thanks to the slew of sexual harassment allegations that led to Bill O'Reilly's termination.
Given this story and the O'Reilly events, it's beginning to look like racism and sexism are a standard part of the culture at the network.
What other horrifying stories are hidden under Fox's surface? And how soon can all of this vile foolishness be stopped?