During the investigation, Fox News superstar Megyn Kelly said Ailes harassed her too, according to a report in NY magazine.
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Ailes, 76, has been chairman and chief executive of Fox since its inception in 1996, and he is often described as one of the most powerful figures in American media and politics. “The negotiations could conclude as early as Tuesday night, but may take longer, according to [Byers’] source”. Many industry watchers say Ailes dictates operational and editorial details of the network and that it is hard to imagine Fox News without him.
However, the Drudge Report obtained documents saying Ailes will receive at least million from Fox to leave.
It would also contain a consulting contract through 2017, Drudge reported.
The company statement, noticeably in the present tense, doesn’t rule out the possibility that Ailes could officially leave in the coming hours or days.
She added, “There is no term sheet, there is no agreement, there is no deal, and the review is ongoing”. Carlson said Doocy was treating her in a “sexist and condescending manner”.
That former Fox female anchor had allegedly told Kelly previously about being kissed by Ailes during a private meeting.
Meanwhile, Fox staffers frantically refreshed their Twitter feeds, checking for the latest information.
But 21st Century Fox said in a statement that no exit agreement had been reached.
Ailes’ exit would be a sudden fall from power for a man who started Fox News from scratch 20 years ago and built it into a top-rated cable news program and a critical profit center for 21st Century Fox.
21st Century Fox and Wall Street Journal-owner News Corp NWSA, +0.48% were part of the same company until mid-2013. He’s previously hired many Republican politicians, including Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee, John Kasich, Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin, as commentators for the channel.
Megyn Kelly has told investigators that Roger Ailes sexually harassed her, joining a growing list of women who have accused the Fox News CEO of unwanted advances.
Kelly’s agent Matthew DelPiano at CAA did not respond to requests for comment.
In her lawsuit, Carlson implied that other women at Fox News have been treated similarly, and remained silent to protect their careers. “In fact, he has spent much of the last decade promoting and helping her to achieve the stardom she earned, for which she has repeatedly and publicly thanked him”, said Estrich, a partner at the Quinn Emanuel law firm, in a prepared statement.
The move against Ailes-which had been rumored for weeks-is a remarkable turn, and comes in the midst of the Republican National Convention.
“This defamatory lawsuit is not only offensive, it is wholly without merit and will be defended vigorously”, he said.
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Fox tweeted, “Roger is at work”. Mr. Ailes said publicly that he would still report directly to Rupert Murdoch.
