21st Century Fox responded to reports that Fox News Channel executive Roger Ailes is leaving the network following a slew of sexual harassment allegations.
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Ailes hasty exit came after reports surfaced earlier Tuesday that Megyn Kelly, widely seen as the emerging face of the cable news network, had joined the ranks of women alleging Ailes had inappropriately propositioned them.
This week as Republicans gathered in Cleveland for their presidential convention, NY magazine reported that Megyn Kelly, the network’s rising star, also told lawyers hired by the company to investigate the matter that she, too, had been sexually harassed by Ailes about ten years ago when she was first hired as a correspondent.
The stunning development comes less than two weeks after Gretchen Carlson filed the suit in a state court in New Jersey, alleging that Ailes sabotaged her career because she refused his sexual advances. Carlson left Fox on June 23 when her contract wasn’t renewed.
Several news outlets reported Tuesday afternoon that negotiations were under way between Ailes and Fox that were likely to lead to Ailes’ ouster. “The only agreement that is in place is his existing employment agreement”. A statement on Tuesday, July 19, came amidst a swirl of contradictory reports that Ailes had been ousted as head of the influential network. “Roger Ailes has never sexually harassed Megyn Kelly”.
When asked about Kelly’s alleged claims that she was the target of unwanted sexual advances from Ailes 10 years ago, when Kelly was a legal correspondent at Fox’s Washington, DC bureau, Coulter was disappointed more details weren’t released.
Ann Coulter, who is not employed by Fox News but appears on the channel often, told The Huffington Post on Tuesday she was surprised by the details regarding Kelly’s accusations.
21st Century Fox, which shares common ownership with News Corp., parent of The Post, will report fourth-quarter and full fiscal-year results on August 3.
The sources who spoke to NY said that lawyers for 21st Century Fox have given Ailes until August 1 to resign, or face being fired for cause. “Gretchen Carlson’s allegations are false”, he wrote.
She worked for the conservative-leaning United States network for 11 years before her contract expired in June.
Doocy later joined Fox, where he co-hosted the “Fox and Friends” morning program with Carlson.
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This year, aided by strong interest in the election, Fox News reported a 37 percent spike in prime-time ratings in the key advertiser demographic of 25- to 54-year-olds.
