Roger Ailes' Son Says He's 'Coming After' Those Who 'Betrayed' His Late Father
During the Saturday funeral service for Fox News’ founder and former CEO Roger Ailes, his son reportedly made a point to threaten the people who had “betrayed” his father.
“I want all the people who betrayed my father to know that I’m coming after them, and hell is coming with me,” Zachary Ailes, 17, said during a speech at the service, according to Lifezette.
Lifezette characterized the comments as relating to the ten women who have publicly accused Ailes of sexual harassment, including former Fox News hosts Gretchen Carlson, Megyn Kelly and Andrea Tantaros.
Carlson filed a lawsuit in July 2016, detailing years of sexual harassment and discrimination. Since then, nine other women have come forward publicly with similar stories.
Ailes has denied all accusations, but he resigned from his position at Fox 15 days after Carlson filed her suit. He was rumored to have received a $40 million exit package from Fox - twice as much as the $20 million settlement that Carlson received.
Ailes died Thursday at the age of 77, after experiencing complications from a blood clot. Former Fox News Host Bill O’Reilly later said that the real cause of Ailes’ death was how much people hated him.
However, that’s not what his son Zachary made it sound like at the funeral. He told Lifezette that his father “considered how much certain people hated him a measure of success.”
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Gretchen Carlson
Ailes' response: The same day Carlson filed her lawsuit, Ailes released the below statement:
"Gretchen Carlson’s allegations are false. This is a retaliatory suit for the network’s decision not to renew her contract, which was due to the fact that her disappointingly low ratings were dragging down the afternoon lineup. When Fox News did not commence any negotiations to renew her contract, Ms. Carlson became aware that her career with the network was likely over and conveniently began to pursue a lawsuit. Ironically, Fox News provided her with more on-air opportunities over her 11 year tenure than any other employer in the industry, for which she thanked me in her recent book. This defamatory lawsuit is not only offensive, it is wholly without merit and will be defended vigorously.”
When we found out: July 6, 2016
When she says it happened: 2005 - 2016
Marsha Callahan
Ailes’ response: Although Ailes did not publicly comment on Boyle’s accusation, his lawyer Barry Asen released a statement. Asen blamed Carlson's initial accusations for these new allegations: “It has become obvious that Ms. Carlson and her lawyer are desperately attempting to litigate this in the press because they have no legal case to argue. The latest allegations, all 30 to 50 years old, are false.”
When we found out: July 9, 2016
When she says it happened: 1967 or 1968
Megyn Kelly
![<strong>Her account: </strong>Directly after Carlson’s accusations came to light, <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/07/14/fox-colleagues-mad-that-megyn-kelly-isn-t-speaking-up-for-roger-ailes">Kelly allegedly told 21st Century Fox</a> investigators that Ailes made unwanted sexual advances when she was just starting out as a correspondent for Fox 10 years prior. In her recent memoir, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/megyn-kelly-roger-ailes-harassment_us_581b4fa2e4b08f9841adb05e">Kelly wrote</a> that Ailes made inappropriate advances, commenting on her “very sexy bras” and “how he’d like to see [her] in them.” He also tried to grab and kiss her, and later threatened to fire her if she did not comply. <br /><br /><strong>Ailes' response: </strong>“I categorically deny the allegations Megyn Kelly makes about me. I worked tirelessly to promote and advance her career, as Megyn herself admitted to Charlie Rose. Watch that interview and then decide for yourself,” Ailes said in a <a href="http://people.com/tv/roger-ailes-denies-megyn-kelly-sexual-harassment-allegations-statement/">statement to People Magazine</a> on November 15, 2016. “My attorneys have restricted me from commenting further -- so suffice it to say that no good deed goes unpunished.”<br /><br /><strong>When we found out: </strong>Initial accusations on July 19, 2016; details from her book on November 3, 2016<br /><br /><strong>When she says it happened: </strong>2005 - 2006](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/5pM60beUFdVONfcRqDShpg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MA--/https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/591dabf9270000520090ead7.jpg)
Ailes' response: “I categorically deny the allegations Megyn Kelly makes about me. I worked tirelessly to promote and advance her career, as Megyn herself admitted to Charlie Rose. Watch that interview and then decide for yourself,” Ailes said in a statement to People Magazine on November 15, 2016. “My attorneys have restricted me from commenting further -- so suffice it to say that no good deed goes unpunished.”
When we found out: Initial accusations on July 19, 2016; details from her book on November 3, 2016
When she says it happened: 2005 - 2006
Rudi Bakhtiar
Ailes’ response: None from Ailes, Fox News or parent company 21st Century Fox.
When we found out: July 23, 2016
When she says it happened: 2007
Laurie Luhn
Ailes’ response: “Ms. Luhn is someone I once regarded as a friend and a person who I helped for many years,” Ailes wrote in a statement to ABC News in November 18, 2016. “The stories she is telling now are fabrications built on half-truths and outright lies, and I can only assume are opportunistically intended to thrust her back into the limelight at my expense.”
When we found out: July 29, 2016
When she says it happened: 1996 - 2016
Laurie Dhue
Ailes’ response: No public response.
When we found out: August 2, 2016
When she says it happened: Sometime during her tenure at Fox News between 2000 and 2008.
Andrea Tantaros
Ailes’ response: While Ailes did not publicly comment on the accusations, Fox News’ lawyers called Tantaros an “opportunist” and said her lawsuit “bears all the hallmarks of the ‘wannabe.’”
When we found out: August 8, 2016
When she says it happened: 2014 - 2016
Shelley Ross
Ailes’ response: None.
When we found out: August 8, 2016
When she says it happened: 1981
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