Lisa Bloom Letter To Ofcom
Uploaded by
Media Matters for AmericaLisa Bloom Letter To Ofcom
Uploaded by
Media Matters for AmericaApril 11, 2017
Sharon White
Chief Executive
Ofcom
Riverside House
2a Southwark Bridge Road
London SE1 9HA
Fax 020 7981 3333
Rebecca Taylor
Ofcom
Riverside House
2A Southwark Bridge Road
London SE1 9HA
Publicinteresttest2017@ofcom.org.uk
fitandproper@ofcom.org.uk
RE: Potential Takeover of Sky PLC by 21st Century Fox
Dear Ms. White:
I am an American civil rights lawyer practicing law in California and New York. I
understand that Ofcom is currently investigating the potential takeover of Sky PLC by 21st
Century Fox. In light of that, I wanted to bring some disturbing information to your attention.
Fox News is an American television news network wholly owned by 21st Century Fox.
Its ongoing culture of sexual harassment, its recent payouts of tens of millions of dollars of hush
money, and most egregiously, its role in ending the careers of women who complained has been
well documented in the American media.
I have represented and conferred with a number of these women. Fox News is currently
investigating the complaint of my client Dr. Wendy Walsh, who alleges that she was promised a
job by the stations top presenter, Bill OReilly. After she refused to go back to his hotel room
with him, however, the job disappeared, she says. Fox News was aware of Dr. Walshs claim,
but only began its investigation of this matter after we called in a complaint to their hotline,
made a video, and posted it online last week. Mr. OReilly has been accused of misconduct
against at least five other women since 2002, including placing telephone calls to women who
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
20700 Ventura Blvd., Suite 301 | Woodland Hills, CA 91364 | P (818) 914-7397 | F (866) 85-BLOOM
Marcelino@TheBloomFirm.com | TheBloomFirm.com
worked for him while he was masturbating. Several of the women reportedly recorded those calls
and brought them to the attention of Fox News.
Nevertheless, Mr. OReilly remains at the network. In fact, his contract was just renewed.
Furthermore, Fox News is under current investigation by the federal Securities and Exchange
Commission for making alleged payouts to silence victims that were not disclosed to its
shareholders.
Foxs failure to intervene to protect the rights of its female journalists, its secret payouts
and use of intimidation tactics are reminiscent of Rupert Murdochs tabloid phone-hacking
scandal in 2011, when it emerged that News of the World reporters had hacked the voicemail of
murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler. The similarities between the current harassment scandal and
the phone-hacking scandal reveal the companys approach to business and management---a lack
of oversight, intervention, and decency.
Today I formally requested that the New York State Division of Human Rights, a
government agency entrusted with the protection of womens rights, open an investigation into
the toxic culture for women at Fox News. My letter outlines this companys utter disregard for
the rights of women. I attach that letter for your review.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you should have any questions.
Very truly yours,
Lisa Bloom
LISA BLOOM
FOR THE BLOOM FIRM
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
20700 Ventura Blvd., Suite 301 | Woodland Hills, CA 91364 | P (818) 914-7397 | F (866) 85-BLOOM
Marcelino@TheBloomFirm.com | TheBloomFirm.com