Roger Yu

USA TODAY

Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this story misstated the terms of 21st Century Fox’s settlement of the sexual harassment lawsuit brought by former Fox broadcaster Gretchen Carlson.

Twenty-First Century Fox, the parent company of Fox News Channel, apologized Tuesday to Gretchen Carlson as it agreed to pay $20 million to the former Fox broadcaster to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit she filed against Fox News' ex-CEO Roger Ailes, according to a person briefed on the settlement terms.

The person requested anonymity because the settlement terms aren't revealed publicly.

Gretchen Carlson vs. Ailes a cultural/media/workplace flashpoint

In a rare and forceful corporate apology, 21st Century Fox also praised Carlson's work at the company. "During her tenure at Fox News, Gretchen exhibited the highest standards of journalism and professionalism," the company said in a statement. "She developed a loyal audience and was a daily source of information for many Americans. We are proud that she was part of the Fox News team. We sincerely regret and apologize for the fact that Gretchen was not treated with the respect and dignity that she and all of our colleagues deserve.”

Twenty-First Century Fox, which was not named as a defendant in Carlson's lawsuit, will pay the entire amount of the settlement sum, the person briefed on the settlement terms said. Under Delaware law, 21st Century Fox was responsible for any damages in the case, the person said.

Carlson said in a statement she was "gratified that 21st Century Fox took decisive action" after she filed her complaint. "I’m ready to move on to the next chapter of my life in which I will redouble my efforts to empower women in the workplace," she said.

"I want to thank all the brave women who came forward to tell their own stories and the many people across the country who embraced and supported me in their #StandWithGretchen," Carlson said, referring to a Twitter campaign she started. "All women deserve a dignified and respectful workplace in which talent, hard work and loyalty are recognized, revered and rewarded.”

Gretchen Carlson files sexual harassment suit against Fox's Ailes

Since Carlson filed her lawsuit in early July, other women have come forward with their claims of sexual harassment at Fox News. And 21st Century Fox, controlled by billionaire mogul Rupert Murdoch, also has settled other claims, the person said, without specifying the number.

Several other claims from non-Fox employees who have alleged that they have been sexually harassed by Ailes date back to the 1970s and 1980s, prior to Ailes' founding of Fox News. Their claims are subject to statutes of limitation.

Fox News names Abernethy, Shine as co-presidents, CFO Kranz retires

In her lawsuit, Carlson said her contract wasn't renewed after she “refused to sleep” with Ailes and reported "severe and pervasive sexual harassment” at her workplace. After an internal investigation by 21st Century Fox, Ailes left the company in late July with a $40 million settlement. He has denied Carlson's allegations. Ailes' lawyer, Susan Estrich, declined to comment.

The settlement is the latest evidence of Fox's desire to quickly get past the scandal that has engulfed the conservative newsroom in the midst of a hectic election season. Several prominent Fox broadcasters, including Greta Van Susteren, whose departure from the network was announced Tuesday, Sean Hannity, Maria Bartiromo, Bill O'Reilly and Brit Hume came out in support of Ailes immediately after the lawsuit was filed.

But conspicuous silence from others, particularly the network's most heavily promoted female anchor, Megyn Kelly, reflected the deep division within the ranks and the professionally precarious position in which Ailes found himself for the first time since he founded the network in 1996. Kelly told the investigators she, too, was harassed by Ailes in the beginning of her career at Fox. And the parent company was careful to keep its distance from Fox News' efforts to counter Carlson's claims, which included a charge that her firing was related to ratings.

In mid-August, 21st Century Fox replaced Ailes by naming two internal executives — Jack Abernethy, CEO of Fox Television Stations; and Bill Shine, senior executive vice president of Fox News — as co-presidents of the news network.

Tantaros sues Fox News, Ailes for sexual harassment

In late August, Andrea Tantaros, a Fox News broadcaster, also filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox News, Ailes and other Fox executives, and said the news network "operates like a sex-fueled, Playboy Mansion-like cult, steeped in intimidation, indecency, and misogyny."

In a legal filing, Fox responded that Tantaros was suspended for breaching her employment contract by publishing a book without the company's approval and said Tantaros never complained about Ailes in an internal probe of her claims. The company said she is "not a victim; she is an opportunist."

Greta Van Susteren quits Fox News

Fox News also announced Tuesday that Van Susteren, host of On the Record, is leaving the network after 14 years. She will be temporarily replaced by Hume, a senior political analyst.

"Fox has not felt like home to me for a few years and I took advantage of the clause in my contract which allows me to leave now," she wrote in her Facebook page.

Fox News said her departure "had nothing to do" with Fox's legal settlement with Carlson.

Tom Wassel, an employment attorney at law firm Cullen and Dykman, said the sum Carlson received is one of the largest settlements in sexual harassment cases and may reflect Fox's eagerness to do damage control. "The company must have evaluated evidence and made a decision that going to trial — and have all of the evidence come out -- would prolong the case," he said.

But corporate apologies aren’t common in settled lawsuits, in which there’s typically no admission of liability, Wassel said.

“It’s something that Fox may have done for public relations purposes. I don’t mean that in a negative way. By them doing that here, it says to me, they’re trying to put out a dumpster fire and to turn the page and move to a new atmosphere,” he said.

Follow USA TODAY media reporter Roger Yu on Twitter @ByRogerYu