BREAKING: Roger Ailes Out At Fox News?

[ABX]

Roger Ailes as been the face of Fox News since its inception and now with sexual harassment charges swirling around him, the Murdochs appear to be on the verge of ousting him.

From New York Magazine:

    Roger Ailes's tenure as the head of Fox News may be coming to an end. Rupert Murdoch and sons Lachlan and James — co-chairmen and CEO, respectively, of parent company 21st Century Fox — have settled on removing the 76-year-old executive, say two sources briefed on a sexual-harassment investigation of Ailes being conducted by New York law firm Paul, Weiss. ...

http://www.redstate.com/jaycaruso/2016/07/18/breaking-roger-ailes-fox-news/

[mystery-ak]

WOW....well maybe just maybe some of these accusations are true....I heard Meghan Kelly refused to join the other ladies at Fox and defend him....hmmmm

[geronl]

I hear his indiscretions are very similar to Trumps

[skeeter]

OR maybe there's a ratings problem now that its widely accepted FNC is a Trump surrogate.

You can't alienate half your audience and expect not to take a hit.

Celebrities should never be political partisans.

[RetBobbyMI]

Let me play the miniature violin in sympathy.

[Sanguine]

Daily Intelligencer
July 18, 2016 12:43 p.m.
Murdochs Have Decided to Remove Roger Ailes — the Only Question Now Is When
By Gabriel Sherman

Roger Ailes's tenure as the head of Fox News may be coming to an end. Rupert Murdoch and sons Lachlan and James — co-chairmen and CEO, respectively, of parent company 21st Century Fox — have settled on removing the 76-year-old executive, say two sources briefed on a sexual-harassment investigation of Ailes being conducted by New York law firm Paul, Weiss. After reviewing the initial findings of the probe, James Murdoch is said to be arguing that Ailes should be presented with a choice this week to resign or face being fired. Lachlan is more aligned with their father, who thinks that no action should be taken until after the GOP convention this week. Another source confirms that all three are in agreement that Ailes needs to go....

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/07/murdochs-have-decided-to-remove-roger-ailes.html#

Who knows?

[txradioguy]

Most likely scenario... FNC has take a major ratings hit...Aile's is the man in charge..the thing with Carlson just gives them a convenient excuse to show him thr door.

[sinkspur]

Of course, people like Brett Baer and Hannity have to support the boss, but it's clear, if this is even being discussed, that the allegations against Ailes have some truth to them. 

[sinkspur]

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/07/sources-kelly-said-ailes-sexually-harassed-her.html

Sources: Megyn Kelly Told Murdoch Investigators That Roger Ailes Sexually Harassed Her

By Gabriel Sherman

As a chorus of prominent Fox News women have gone public defending Roger Ailes against the wave of sexual-harassment allegations sparked by former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson’s lawsuit, the network’s biggest star, Megyn Kelly, has been conspicuously silent. Kelly’s refusal to join in Ailes’s orchestrated defense has led to speculation about why.

Now we have the answer. According to two sources briefed on parent company 21st Century Fox’s outside probe of the Fox News executive, led by New York–based law firm Paul, Weiss, Kelly has told investigators that Ailes made unwanted sexual advances toward her about ten years ago when she was a young correspondent at Fox. Kelly, according to the sources, has described her harassment by Ailes in detail.

Kelly’s comments to investigators might explain why the Murdochs are moving so quickly to oust Ailes. As New York reported yesterday, Rupert and sons James and Lachlan, the three top executives at 21st Century Fox, have, according to multiple sources, decided that Ailes needs to be removed. Kelly, who has become something of a feminist icon thanks to her tangles with GOP nominee Donald Trump, is seen by many inside Fox as the future of the network. She’s currently in contract negotiations, and given that Bill O’Reilly has said he’s considering retirement, Fox can’t afford to lose her.


According to two sources, Monday afternoon lawyers for 21st Century Fox gave Ailes a deadline of August 1 to resign or face being fired for cause. Ailes’s legal team — which now includes Susan Estrich, former campaign manager for Michael Dukakis — has yet to respond to the offer. Ailes has also received advice on strategy from Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani, sources say.

Ailes’s strategy so far has included attacking Kelly in the press. According to sources, Ailes spokesperson Irena Briganti has been criticizing Kelly to reporters, saying she is selfish to not stand up for the man who gave her career opportunities. Roughly a dozen Fox women have praised Ailes since Carlson filed her suit. According to a Fox source, the pro-Ailes campaign has been led by Fox anchor Kimberly Guilfoyle, who has filled in hosting Carlson's former 2 p.m. time slot.

Briganti did not respond to a request for comment.

Back in the mid-2000s, when Ailes allegedly harassed her, Kelly, a former corporate attorney, was a legal correspondent in Fox’s Washington bureau. Soon she was appearing regularly on Bill O’Reilly’s show and hosting her own legal segments. In 2010, Ailes gave her a two-hour daytime show, and in 2013, he moved her into prime time to replace Sean Hannity at 9 p.m.

Kelly’s agent Matthew DelPiano at CAA did not respond to requests for comment. 21st Century Fox did not comment.

Meanwhile, the Paul, Weiss lawyers are attempting to interview former Fox employees who have stories of harassment but haven’t spoken because they signed settlements with Ailes’s Fox attorney, Dianne Brandi. 21st Century Fox is now waiving the NDAs to allow women to speak.

[geronl]

Ailes and Trump and Clinton have the same kind of issues

[bolobaby]

I kind of hate the term "unwanted sexual advances."

When it comes to matters of sex, men are the most likely to explore options. They make an advance. If a woman is receptive, everything is hunky-dory. If the woman isn't receptive, it's suddenly an "unwanted" advance and the man has harassed the woman.

There are distinct differences, imho, between making advances - even being persistent - and outright harassment. There are also obligations on the part of the woman to make it clear that the advance is, in fact, unwanted and should go no further. Many women that I have personally met will be coy or even flirt with no intention of carrying the matter further. This puts the guy in the position of thinking he has a chance and now becomes a "repeat offender."

All that being said, the workplace is not the environment for advances. Ailes should know that. The problem is, with most people's lives, the workplace is the only place people get social interaction these days. There are so many successful workplace hookups that it is something of a norm.

Sigh.

[WAC]

Ailes and Trump and Clinton have the same kind of issues

Last I heard Ailes is out...anything current on this?

[HAPPY2BME]

Charlie Rose

Published on Oct 7, 2015

"People think that Roger Ailes is this Republican operative, and he’s back there giving the anchors GOP talking points. No. That’s all B.S." Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly talks to Charlie Rose about her career, her work at Fox News and the 2016 campaign. The full interview airs on PBS on Oct. 7, 2015. Visit www.charlierose.com for more.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8kOq9z7YWY

[HAPPY2BME]

It's OK, Megyn.

You can tell your story now that Donald Trump has crushed Aisles and the Jebusite Cult of The gopE.

Go ahead.  Tell us all about it.

[mlizzy]

This news is at the top of the Drudge site now!

http://www.drudgereport.com/

[geronl]

Of course, people like Brett Baer and Hannity have to support the boss, but it's clear, if this is even being discussed, that the allegations against Ailes have some truth to them.

I wonder if the Trump News Network will become the Hillary News Network soon

[sinkspur]

Read in two places that O'Reilly, Hannity and Greta all have "out" clauses in their contracts if Ailes ever leaves the network.

[jmyrlefuller]

I kind of hate the term "unwanted sexual advances."

When it comes to matters of sex, men are the most likely to explore options. They make an advance. If a woman is receptive, everything is hunky-dory. If the woman isn't receptive, it's suddenly an "unwanted" advance and the man has harassed the woman.

There are distinct differences, imho, between making advances - even being persistent - and outright harassment. There are also obligations on the part of the woman to make it clear that the advance is, in fact, unwanted and should go no further. Many women that I have personally met will be coy or even flirt with no intention of carrying the matter further. This puts the guy in the position of thinking he has a chance and now becomes a "repeat offender."

All that being said, the workplace is not the environment for advances. Ailes should know that. The problem is, with most people's lives, the workplace is the only place people get social interaction these days. There are so many successful workplace hookups that it is something of a norm.

Sigh.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

 :thumbsup2:

There is one other factor here that you didn't mention but should: Roger Ailes was in a position of leadership, a position of superiority over these women. He regularly admitted hiring pretty blonde women as newsbabes. To hit on his subordinates in such a way is, and always should be, a HUGE no-no. (Besides, Ailes is much older and I imagine, if it weren't for his position, most women would find him rather disgusting.)