“Roger Ailes has never sexually harassed Megyn Kelly”.
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Carlson’s complaint, filed in Superior Court in New Jersey this month, said Ailes, chairman and chief executive of Fox News, “sabotaged” the anchor’s career at the cable channel because she complained about a hostile working environment when she was a co-host of “Fox & Friends”.
Ailes’ exit was prematurely announced Tuesday on the Drudge Report, which published – and then took down – papers showing that Ailes would be leaving the company with a $40million payout and the possibility of staying on through 2017 as a consultant. The online Drudge Report posted a tweet about an exit package worth $40 million (36 million euros) for Ailes, but moments later deleted it.
How he leaves could also say a lot about the network. More women came forward alleging similar treatment by Ailes during his time as a producer in the decades before he set up shop at Fox News. Staffers were not formally told anything by the company. She also said she didn’t put much stock in reports that 21st Century Fox chiefs have made a decision to replace him.
A Fox statement said a legal review into the accusations was ongoing and that Ailes was at work.
Several news outlets reported Tuesday afternoon that negotiations were under way between Ailes and Fox that were likely to lead to Ailes’ ouster.
On Monday, New York magazine’s Gabriel Sherman reported that the three Murdochs “have settled on removing” Ailes.
Sources told the Daily Intelligencer that Ailes was told to resign by August 1 or be fired for cause.
The Murdoch family is moving to oust the chairman of Fox News Channel after multiple women have accused him of sexual harassment, NPR’s David Folkenflik reports.
“Roger wants Fox to be successful”, Estrich said when asked if Ailes wants to remain an executive at Fox. Meanwhile, Ailes’s lawyer, Susan Estrich, denied the allegations, telling the Hollywood Reporter: “Roger has spent the last 10 years helping Megyn Kelly become the star that she is”.
The timing of the possible departure of Ailes comes at a particularly bad time, as the Republican National Convention is underway in Cleveland.
Ailes defended her and in a statement at the time said she “is an excellent journalist and the entire network stands behind her”. “Under normal circumstances, most people could just go about their jobs, but Roger is such a commanding presence in those jobs, people just don’t know what to do”, this person said.
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In a statement, 21st Century Fox said that Ailes, 76, is now still an employee. It’s refreshing news that the exec will no longer run Fox News, but the fact that he’ll be payed to leave taints the bit of progress achieved. Stay tuned for more information.
