Several news outlets reported Tuesday afternoon that negotiations were under way between Ailes and Fox that were likely to lead to Ailes’ ouster.
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In a statement, 21st Century Fox said that Ailes, 76, is now still an employee.
Roger Ailes, the former GOP political operative who oversaw the creation of the Fox News Channel and turned it into the leading voice of American conservatism, is in final negotiations to leave as chief executive of the network amid a budding sexual harassment scandal, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations.
Carlson says in the suit that she attempted to complain to Ailes about sexist treatment from her colleagues on Fox & Friends, to which Ailes replied, “I think you and I should have had a sexual relationship a long time ago”. Kelly notably kept silent on the issue for weeks after Carlson first accused Ailes, and still hasn’t publicly spoken about her experience, but multiple Tuesday reports claim Kelly has alleged harassment from Ailes to investigators.
After Carlson’s lawsuit was filed, at least six women have approached Carlson’s law firm with similar claims, the firm said.
However, Ms. Estrich, Mr. Ailes’s lawyer said till now nothing had been finalized. She told The Hollywood Reporter “Roger has spent the last 10 years helping Megyn Kelly become the star that she is”.
Fox News didn’t immediately return HuffPost’s requests for comment. “Roger is at work”.
Meanwhile, an official statement from 21st Century Fox on Tuesday announced that Ailes is still working at the company. Ailes’s attorney, Susan Estrich, told CNN that there was no deal yet and any announcement on an agreement would be made by Twenty-First Century Fox.
Within minutes, however, the site deleted the image and took down the claim that Ailes was out.
“There’s lots of cross-talk, but no agreement has been reached”, she said.
As we’ve reported, former Fox news anchor Gretchen Carlson sued Ailes for sexual harassment earlier this month. The network was the most-watched basic cable television channel with an average of 2.2 million prime-time viewers for the year through June, according to Nielsen data.
The Wall Street Journal reports Fox was negotiating Ailes’ exit with his legal team as of Tuesday evening (July 19). “The review is ongoing”.
Sherman also reported that Ailes was huddled in “full on insane mode” with his closest aides, furious that Kelly might be credited with his firing. “The only agreement that is in place is his existing employment agreement”.
A high-ranking source said that Ailes participated in the network’s daily 9 a.m. editorial call, and made no mention of the controversy, but did not participate in the daily 2:30 p.m. followup call.
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The timing of the possible departure of Ailes comes at a particularly bad time, as the Republican National Convention is underway in Cleveland.
