Fox News executive John Finley fired after woman claims ‘he sexually harassed and stalked her ‘relentlessly’ – while it was revealed he ‘bought earrings’ ‘pearl ears to young blonde network stars while he pursued them’
- John Finley, 45, was fired from Fox News last Friday after an external investigation
- Broadcaster claims he was fired for ‘violating’ its ‘business conduct’
- He worked at the company for more than 20 years, before heading Fox Nation in 2019.
A top Fox News executive was fired last week for “business conduct” violations after allegedly sexually harassing a woman and stalking her, according to reports.
Former executive John Finley, who worked at the network for more than 20 years, was accused of being “relentless” in his campaign of stalking, according to Mediaite.
Divorced Finely, 45, is accused of targeting the woman after working on several projects with Fox Nation, the streaming service he ran.
She was not an employee of the broadcaster and Fox hired a prestigious outside law firm to investigate and reached an undisclosed settlement with the woman.
A Fox spokesperson said: “FOX News Media and John Finley have parted ways after an independent investigation concluded that he violated certain standards of business conduct.”
Former director John Finley, who worked for the channel for more than 20 years, was accused of being “relentless” in his campaign of criminal harassment, according to Mediaite.
He allegedly had romantic relationships with various subordinates throughout his tenure at the company, with a source telling Mediaite that he would get the girl’s Tiffany pearl earrings.
Finley married a Fox colleague before the couple split in 2021, with multiple sources claiming he would pursue romantic relationships with his subordinates.
One told Mediaite that the woman claimed Finley was “relentlessly stalking her and wouldn’t stop texting her”, despite her “rejection”.
He also allegedly took the woman out to dinners and bought her gifts, with sources saying this was part of what was left over from his firing last Friday.
The executive, who was promoted in 2019 to Fox Nation’s top job, is accused of “a relentless pattern of sexual harassment and quid pro quo.” »
“I can get you this job if you have amazing opportunities,” they said. “What if she went to New York and didn’t see him? Tantrums.’
Finley allegedly promised “big show promotions” to young female employees, telling them he would make them a “Fox News star,” despite having “little or no power to actually do it.”
He allegedly had romantic relationships with various subordinates throughout his tenure at the company, with a source telling Mediaite that he would get the girl’s Tiffany pearl earrings.
The source added: “I’ve noticed there’s a trend where all the women tend to buy her giant pearl earrings.
Finley married a Fox colleague before the couple split in 2021, with multiple sources claiming he would pursue romantic relationships with his subordinates.
“That was our big code of like, ‘Oh, she has to get these same pearl earrings from John.’ She was promoted without any experience. She is blonde. She looks like she’s from a sorority.
“He buys all the girls the same presents. It was like he was arguing.
Others say he violated Fox’s standards of business conduct, including conflicts of interest, improper use of his position to benefit someone over whom he had influence, and business ethics.
Erin Kormann, Finley’s attorney, told Mediaite: “Mr. Finley would like us to convey that he vigorously denies all allegations in the text you sent, and that this is an attempt to defamation of Mr Finley and that he intends to pursue all his legal remedies at this stage.
Kormann did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com.
Finley has worked at Fox News since its inception and was promoted to launch Fox Nation in 2019, despite Jason Klarman being named president in 2020.
He was also part of a misconduct investigation in 2011, but was cleared of any wrongdoing at the time, with the network citing a “lack of evidence.”
