Roger Ailes’ days atop Fox News are numbered: Rupert, Lachlan and James Murdoch have decided to remove the network’s CEO, per New York Magazine.
The 21st Century Fox braintrust is a bit divided on the timing, however. According to the report, James wants to present the 76-year-old executive with the option to resign or be fired this week. His dad and brother purportedly prefer to wait until after the GOP convention — but want the same end result.
Ailes was sued on July 6 by former “Real Story” host Gretchen Carlson, who accuses her erstwhile boss of sexual harassment. 21st Century Fox opened an internal investigation of the claims later that day.
Regarding the rumors of Ailes’ ouster, 21st Century Fox said in a statement on Monday, “This matter is not yet resolved and the review is not concluded.”
Carlson’s lawsuit against Ailes, filed earlier this month, claims he sexually propositioned her, then fired her in retaliation after she complained about discrimination and harassment. Ailes has called her claims “false” and “offensive,” and promised a vigorous defense.
Last week, his lawyers moved to relocate the proceedings from New Jersey to the Southern District court in New York, arguing that Carlson’s employment agreement calls for resolution of any claims via arbitration in the network’s home state.
Since Carlson filed suit, six more women have come forward with claims that Ailes sexually harassed them over multiple decades, pre-dating his time as the head of Fox News.