Former top New York Post editor Michelle Gotthelf filed a lawsuit against the publication in federal court Tuesday, citing sexual harassment and discrimination.
The lawsuit follows Gotthelf’s firing last week after a 21-year career with the publication, where she was responsible for hiring reporters and approving news coverage. She most recently held the position of digital editor-in-chief.
The 16-page complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York names New York Post former Editor-in-Chief Col Allan, current Editor-in-Chief Keith Poole, NYP Holdings, and parent company News Corp.
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“For more than two decades, I took great pride in my work shaping coverage at one of the most widely read news organizations in the country,” Gotthelf said in a statement obtained by Law & Crime. “While I never intended to become the news, the truth of what happened to me deserves to be heard. I will miss my colleagues dearly and hope that by speaking out there can be positive change for other women at the Post.”
In the court filing, Gotthelf detailed her claims of discrimination and sexual harassment by Allan.
“Mr. Allan delighted in degrading Ms. Gotthelf, and women generally, in front of her mostly male peers,” the filing alleged.
The lawsuit also claimed that while Gotthelf was having drinks with Allan one night, to which she had “reluctantly agreed because he was her boss,” Allan suggested she sleep with him after discussing his frustration with his own wife. Gotthelf told him, “That’s not going to happen,” according to the court filing.
Allan was allegedly forced to retire from the New York Post in 2016 but was then brought back in 2019 as a consultant when the harassment restarted, according to the lawsuit.
The court filing alleged that Allan became increasingly threatening and abusive after the New York Post published a story about E. Jean Carroll’s rape accusations against then-President Donald Trump.
Allan allegedly told Gotthelf to remove the story, and when she disagreed, he told her to take the story “f****** down,” according to the lawsuit.
Gotthelf’s suit also included accusations of being discriminated against and passed over for multiple promotions due to being a woman or as retaliation based on her previous complaints against Allan.
The lawsuit claimed she was “effectively demoted” when Poole was hired. Poole allegedly sought information about Gotthelf and Allan’s interactions in November 2021, and she explained that Allan had “sexually propositioned her and that she did not want to go through that again.”
Two months later, Gotthelf was fired without cause, according to the lawsuit.
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In the suit, Gotthelf is seeking economic, compensatory, and punitive damages in addition to interest and attorney fees.
