Roger Ailes Polarizes Celebs, Media After Death: ‘Lots to Unpack in That Obit’

Roger Ailes Polarizes Celebs, Media After Death: ‘Lots to Unpack in That Obit’

Former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes continues to polarize the nation even after his passing Thursday, as media members and celebrities took to Twitter to both mock his death — and celebrate his life.

A handful of Fox News employees have expressed their condolences, but other media members weren’t as kind when it came to remembering the man who left the network he founded in disgrace.

Ailes resigned from Fox News in July after former anchor Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment lawsuit that resulted in multiple women coming forward with similar claims. Before the sexual harassment scandals emerged, Ailes was considered the mastermind behind the success of Fox News and one of the most powerful men in both media and American politics.

Also Read: Roger Ailes, Former Fox News Chief, Dies at 77

Check out some of the reaction from critics:

Other media members are respecting the death of the former Fox News CEO:

Also Read: Fox News Plans to Gut Roger Ailes' Old Office, Convert Into Expanded Newsroom

Ailes started his career as a staffer on “The Mike Douglas Show” back in 1962 and was the program’s executive producer by 1967. While working on the program, Ailes developed a relationship with Richard Nixon and eventually worked on his presidential campaign.

He has been a prominent member of the GOP ever since, working on several campaigns including George H.W. Bush’s successful 1988 presidential bid. He withdrew from political consulting in 1992, but is rumored to have advised Republican leaders in the years since, notably George W. Bush following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The former Fox News boss is also credited with bringing opinion back to news coverage, starting with America’s Talking, an NBC-owned network that eventually became CNBC. Ailes has also produced Broadway plays, served as president of CNBC and hosted a short-lived talk show during his career.

Ailes was named the founding CEO of Fox News in 1996 and the network quickly gained popularity while he called the shots. Fox News is now regularly among the most-watched networks in all of cable and dominates the cable news category.

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Roger Ailes, Former Fox News Chief, Dies at 77

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