The sexual harassment accusations brought by journalist Cathy Areu against Fox News hosts Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity appear to be imploding. Despite claiming that she was harassed by both men, as well as other Fox News personalities, and that she was blackballed from appearing on the network after she rejected the men's advances, new evidence has emerged to poke significant holes in that story.
Areu claimed that while appearing with Hannity, she was humiliated when the host tossed down a $100 bill and begged any man in the studio to take her out on a date. Emails now show that Areu brought her own date to the studio that night and that Hannity gave the couple a $100 bill to go get drinks afterwards. Areu even sent a thank-you email the following morning.
"Please thank Sean for a fun evening," Areu in an email sent at 6:39 a.m. "He shouldn't have! … but We did exactly as he and Alex's had bet. Down to the pineapple martini."
Further, both Fox News records and independent analysis by Mediaite reveal that despite her claims, Areu continued to be a regular guest on Hannity's program following the alleged incident.
In regard to Carlson, Areu claims the popular host propositioned her after her appearance on his show the night of the company's Christmas party, telling her that he would be staying alone at a New York City hotel without his wife and kids.
But when evidence surfaced that Areu did not appear on Carlson's show the night of the Fox Christmas party, her attorneys corrected that it must have been a smaller, private party for Carlson's staff only. Except the night of that private party, Carlson's wife was with him and co-hosted the event.
Areu also claimed that her sidestep of Carlson's advances resulted in her not being invited back for a future appearance. Fox records show that Areu appeared on his program four times in the four months following the alleged incident, the exact number of times she appeared in the four months preceding it.
Other Areu accusations against men like Howard Kurtz, Gianno Caldwell, and Ed Henry also have credibility gaps.
