Ex-Fox News host Gretchen Carlson sues Fox news boss Roger Ailes for sexual harassment

YOU DON'T make it all the way through the Miss America competition

and

Stanford University without a bit of toughness.

That grit will be put to the test in Gretchen Carlson's lawsuit against Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, one of the most powerful men in broadcasting.

Carlson sued Ailes on Wednesday in Bergen County, N.J., where Ailes owns a home, claiming she was fired after she refused his sexual advances and complained about harassment in the workplace.

Carlson, the 1989 Miss America and former host of Fox & Friends, had worked at Fox News for 11 years. She was abruptly fired on June 23. Nine months earlier, during a meeting with Ailes to address her feelings that she had been discriminated against, she alleges he told her that "you and I should have had a sexual relationship a long time ago."

Carlson, 50, alleges in her suit that Ailes, 76, ogled her, repeatedly commented about her legs, urged her to wear clothes that enhanced her figure and told her she was sexy but "too much hard work."

Carlson said she was fired as a host of the morning show Fox & Friends in 2013, and her pay reduced with the transfer to a daytime slot, because she had complained about sexual harassment.

She said that one of her Fox & Friends co-hosts, Steve Doocy, "had created a hostile work environment by regularly treating her in a sexist and condescending way." She said that when Ailes heard of her complaints, he called her a "man hater" who needed to learn to "get along with the boys."

Carlson is married - to a man - and has two children, Kaia and Christian. Her husband, Casey Close, is a powerful sports agent whose clients have included Ryan Howard, Clayton Kershaw and Derek Jeter.

Carlson said that Ailes punished her complaining by cutting back on political interviews that she conducted and ending a regular appearance she made on Bill O'Reilly's prime-time program.

"I have strived to empower women and girls throughout my entire career," Carlson said in a statement. "Although this was a difficult step to take, I had to stand up for myself and speak out for all women and the next generation of women in the workplace."

In the lawsuit, Carlson alleges that Ailes did not provide her with anywhere near the network support and promotion provided to other Fox hosts "who did not complain about harassment and rebuff his sexual advances." Carlson's lawyer, Nancy Erika Smith, said she'd heard from other women at Fox who experienced similar behavior, but she would not identify them.

Smith said she had "very strong evidence" against Ailes that she looked forward to presenting in court.

"I'm sure he feels untouchable," she said. "I'm sure he feels that he's gotten away with it all these years and he will continue to. What he's going to find is that in America at least, and maybe around the world, the tide is turning on this kind of treatment of women."

The suit asks for an unspecified amount of payment for damages.

*

Ciara

and

Russell Wilson

have finally gotten married.

E! News reported that the wedding was a star-studded, emotional affair in front of family and friends at the Peckforton Castle in Cheshire, England.

Ciara wore a lace, long sleeve Roberto Cavalli gown, designed by her friend Peter Dundas.

In attendance were Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Rowland and LaLa Anthony. Missing was bridesmaid Serena Williams who had a conflict with this little tennis tournament called Wimbledon.

* Kaley Cuoco has apologized for posting an Instagram photo on Independence Day of her dogs sitting on an American flag.

She added that the picture in no way reflects her "feelings toward what the American flag represents."

She says she's "a proud American, today, tomorrow, always."

* A Manhattan street corner will be temporarily named for longtime fashion photographer Bill Cunningham.

Cunningham, who took pictures of people on the streets of NYC for The New York Times, died June 25 at age 87.

City officials on Wednesday are renaming the northeast corner of 57th Street and Fifth Avenue "Bill Cunningham Corner."

The renaming will last through Wednesday. Mayor Bill de Blasio has the power to rename a street for a few days. The city hopes to find a more lasting way to honor Cunningham.

* Marvel Comics announced yesterday that Iron Man will now be a young, black woman.

Robert Downey Jr. is a great actor, but . . .

- Daily News wire services

contributed to this report.

gensleh@phillynews.com

215-854-5678 @DNTattle