Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations, Roger Ailes Resigns as Fox News CEO
Roger Ailes has resigned as Fox News’ CEO, amid accusations of sexual harassment.
The 76-year-old will be replaced by his boss, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, according to a statement from 21st Century Fox.
The Associated Press had broken the story via Twitter Thursday afternoon.
BREAKING: Fox News Network CEO Roger Ailes is resigning, 21st Century Fox says
— The Associated Press (@AP) July 21, 2016
In a statement from 21st Century Fox, Murdoch wrote: “Roger Ailes has made a remarkable contribution to our company and our country. Roger shared my vision of a great and independent television organization and executed it brilliantly over 20 great years.”
Earlier this week, New York Magazine reported that Fox News’ Megyn Kelly had reportedly claimed she was sexually harassed by Ailes a decade ago after her former colleague Gretchen Carlson made similar accusations earlier this month.
Read: Megyn Kelly Claims She Too Was Sexually Harassed by Fox News Boss in New Blow to Network
The 45-year-old anchor’s allegations were reportedly made to a team of lawyers hired by Fox News to investigate claims that 76-year-old Ailes sabotaged the career of Carlson because she rebuffed his advances.
Carlson is now suing Ailes, alleging in court papers that he told her: "I think you and I should have had a sexual relationship a long time ago then you'd be good and better and I’d be good and better."
Ailes denounced the allegations, saying, "Gretchen Carlson's allegations are false. This is a retaliatory suit for the network's decision not to renew her contract."
Ailes' lawyer said that he never sexually harassed Kelly.
"He never sexually harassed Megyn Kelly and they had enormous amounts of encounters over the years in which he consistently helped her become a more successful television anchor," his attorney said.
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