– Fox News threatened legal action against a Ukrainian family after the death of their daughter who was reporting for the network.
– The Kuvshynovs are suing Fox, alleging that the network endangered their daughter by failing to ensure her safety.
– Fox said it would pursue legal action against the family if they broke a non-disparagement agreement signed after their daughter’s death, which the family believes is unfair.
Fox News threatened legal action against the family of Oleksandra Kuvshynova, a Ukrainian reporter who died while working for the network. The network warned the family of potential retaliation if they broke a non-disparagement agreement signed after her death. In response, the Kuvshynovs filed a lawsuit against Fox, claiming that the network endangered their daughter by failing to ensure her safety while covering the Russian invasion in 2022.
The lawsuit alleges that Fox took unacceptable risks during Kuvshynova’s assignment, such as continuing the trip despite security concerns raised by consultants. The family also claims that Fox withheld information about the events surrounding Kuvshynova’s death and offered a misleading narrative. They are seeking damages for wrongful death and fraud, among other claims, although these claims have not been independently verified by Business Insider.
After Kuvshynova’s death, Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott contacted her father to offer condolences and financial assistance, including back pay, funeral costs, and life insurance coverage. However, the agreement included non-disclosure and non-disparagement clauses that the family was unaware of the details of when they signed. The family’s lawyer argues that the waiver is not legally binding because the family was unaware of Fox’s reckless behavior and was induced to sign away their rights unknowingly.
Fox News maintains that the non-disparagement agreement is valid and that the Kuvshynovs cannot legally break the terms of the compensation package. They have defended their actions surrounding Kuvshynova’s death and expressed gratitude to their journalists for covering the war in Ukraine, despite the allegations made in the lawsuit.