Fox Hosts Call Federal Agencies Investigating Gender Bias In Hollywood “Meddlers”

From the May 12 edition of Fox News' Outnumbered:

Video file

LISA KENNEDY MONTGOMERY (CO-HOST): The world has gone mad. The feds reportedly expanding their investigation into alleged gender bias in Hollywood. That's right, specifically against female directors. According to the ACLU, two federal agencies are now interviewing studio executives, producers, agents, actors and male directors. This as new statistics show that women made up just 9 percent of all directors for the top 250 grossing films last year, including these three who are the exception to the rule. Sam Taylor Johnson, who directed Fifty Shades of Grey; Elizabeth Banks, who did Pitch Perfect 2; and Nancy Meyers, who directed The Intern. Scott, you work there, you live there. Is there rampant sexism in progressive Hollywood?

SCOTT BAIO: This is what the government is wasting their time with? On this kind of B.S.?

KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE (CO-HOST): And our money.

BAIO: It's so ridiculous. And our money. It’s absurd. Listen, I work there, and every job I've ever done, the last show I did on Nickelodeon, you hire the person that's most qualified and best for the job. I don't care if -- woman, man, I don't, kid, old person, it doesn't matter. It's looking for something that isn't there, in my opinion.

KENNEDY: So what is the federal government going to do, Kimberly?

GUILFOYLE: I wish they would just go on vacation forever. 

[...]

GUILFOYLE: They're meddlers, right? It's just constant. But this is also the ACLU and, oh, yes, we're going to help you. They scratch each other's backs all the time, it's exhausting. And what happens is really not helping women, is it? I mean, apply for a job. Come up with an idea, a script, you know? Put it forward and see if somebody's interested in hiring you. You're not helping women by saying that they're incapable to do it on their own. 

KENNEDY: No, and I don't think we need the government's involvement. That's certainly beyond the scope of government. But Hollywood is supposed to be so touchy-feely and progressive and liberal and inclusive.

HARRIS FAULKNER (CO-HOST): I want to yield all my time back to Scott because you have all the experience there. It is supposed to be hug it out. What's going on?
 
BAIO: I don't know. And they'll probably go along with it. I really don't know. 

FAULKNER: Ah.

BAIO: I think it's -- listen, if you're going to force somebody to get a job, which is I think what they want to do, you're going to make a woman direct something that she is not, she might be, is not qualified to direct, then the odds of that company hiring another woman to do another job is very small. 

FAULKNER: Ah. Excellent point.

BAIO: So, you know, again, I prefer to work with women, I really do. It's an easier day.

FAULKNER: So you're liking this.

BAIO: I am very much. But it's, like you said, it's just looking for something to do, it's looking for the PC thing out in Hollywood. And they’re all for it. 

KENNEDY: Alright, so do we need quotas in Hollywood, Julie? 

JULIE ROGINSKY (CO-HOST): No, we don't. I don't understand the remedy. You asked the right question, what is the remedy? Is the remedy that, OK, let's say they find there is discrimination, so now Scott Baio and Kimberly Guilfoyle are both up for the same job, Scott Baio is the better person but now Kimberly Guilfoyle or me or anybody else is going to have to get the job because of quotas? That's not how it works. That’s not how it should work.

Previously:

Fox Host Tells Women In Hollywood Experiencing Gender Pay Gap: “Be A Better Negotiator”

How Right-Wing Media Attacks Against Celebrities Who Speak Out About The Gender Pay Gap

“Hollywood Asshole”: The Celebrities Conservative Media Went After In 2015