Long before sexual harassment allegations surfaced against filmmaker Harvey Weinstein, there was Gretchen Carlson, the journalist who first made claims against late Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes.
The former Fox News host told Cheddar Monday that a lot has changed since she spoke out seventeen months ago.
“Now when high profile men have been accused, or their cases have been proven, they’re immediately apologizing, people are getting fired,” she said. “Now we’re seeing real consequences. That empowers more women to realize, ‘Wow, if I do speak up, there might actually be a consequence.’ And women are being believed...We’re starting to see those three major shifts in a short period of time. Who could ever have predicted that?”
Carlson may have opened the doors for the #MeToo movement, which has seen women make accusations against high-profile men across industries, from media to entertainment, from technology to politics.
The ex-anchor released a book titled “Be Fierce” shortly after news of the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke. In it she shares her experience and those of other women who have faced sexual harassment. Earlier this month she joined members of Congress to introduce a bipartisan bill to prevent secret arbitration clauses in employment contracts. Many feel that discourages women from speaking out.
“The idea that I could get Democrats and Republicans to come together on that was a huge accomplishment,” she said.
For the full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/sparking-the-metoo-movement).
After serving an in-school suspension over his hairstyle, a Black high school student in Texas immediately received the same punishment when he arrived at school Monday wearing his hair as before in twisted dreadlocks tied on top of his head, his mother said.
Jackie Siegel, best known for her 2012 documentary 'The Queen of Versailles,' joined Cheddar News to reflect on the death of her daughter due to a drug overdose. She also discussed how she's using her platform to advocate for awareness of overdoses and to help with prevention.
A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy died after he was shot in his patrol car Saturday evening by an unknown assailant, and an investigation is underway that the sheriff said will press all of the department’s resources into action.
Jann Wenner, who co-founded Rolling Stone magazine and also was a co-founder of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, has been removed from the hall's board of directors after making comments that were seen as disparaging toward Black and female musicians. He apologized within hours.
Three British news organizations reported Saturday that comedian and social influencer Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assault and abuse based on allegations from four women who knew him over a seven-year period at the height of his fame.
