From the July 20 edition of NBC's Today:
NBC Highlights Fox Chairman Roger Ailes’ Reported Departure “Over Sexual Harassment Allegations"
Rolling Stone's Tim Dickinson: “Fox News Is In Every Way A Reflection Of Roger Ailes”
Written by Media Matters Staff
Published
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE (CO-HOST): Let's begin this half hour with new fallout over sexual harassment allegations against Fox News CEO Roger Ailes. Is his era at that network coming to an end? NBC senior investigative and legal correspondent Cynthia McFadden has been following this story and the lawsuit closely. She's at Fox headquarters in New York this morning. Cynthia, good morning to you.
CYNTHIA MCFADDEN: Good morning Savannah. Well there has been a lot of speculation about whether Roger Ailes is poised to sign a massive exit deal with Fox News. This morning sister publication the New York Post makes it clear the end is near. New images of Roger Ailes seen here leaving Fox News with wife Elizabeth Tilson amid reports the long-time CEO could be on his way out for good. Ailes' recent troubles began earlier this month when former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson filed a lawsuit against the 76-year-old media mogul alleging repeated sexual harassment. She urged others to speak out, releasing this message on Twitter on Tuesday.
[BEGIN VIDEO]
GRETCHEN CARLSON: It's time for us to come out of the shadows and let our voices be heard.
[END VIDEO]
MCFADDEN: Ailes called Carlson's allegations “offensive” and “defamatory” and said that they would be “vigorously defended.” Now another Fox News anchor, Megyn Kelly, has entered the controversy. Among New York magazine reports she too was sexually harassed by Ailes. Ailes' attorney Susan Estrich responded saying, “Roger Ailes has never sexually harassed Megyn Kelly. In fact, he spent much of the last decade promoting and helping her to achieve the stardom she earned, for which she has repeatedly and publicly thanked him.” Kelly described her publicly as recently as last October in glowing terms.
[BEGIN VIDEO]
MEGYN KELLY: He's absolutely a mentor to me. He's also a friend. He's -- he is my boss. I mean, we're not equals. But I depend on him for friendship and seeing honest advice and he'll give it to me.
[END VIDEO]
MCFADDEN: Tim Dickinson, who wrote an Ailes profile for Rolling Stone magazine in 2011, painted a picture of a man who revolutionized cable news, combining years of experience as a political operative and an ultraconservative ideology to build Fox News from the ground up.
TOM DICKINSON: Roger had an incredibly free hand in developing Fox News, so Fox News is in every way a reflection of Roger Ailes.
MCFADDEN: Much to Ailes' chagrin a year ago 21st Century Fox owner Rupert Murdoch put his sons Lachlan and James in charge of Fox News and announced that Ailes would be reporting to them. Sources with direct knowledge of the situation told NBC News the brothers wanted Ailes out, even back then.
MICHAEL WOLFF: Roger Ailes is the most important person in television news. He is the most important person in the conservative movement in America.
MCFADDEN: The decision about whether to remove Roger Ailes from his post will undoubtedly have an affect not just on Fox News but also on the landscape of Republican politics. So parent company 21st Century Fox put out a statement via tweet. It says, “Roger is at work. The review is ongoing. The only agreement that is in place is his existing employment agreement.” Roger Ailes' attorney tells me that Roger Ailes continues to run Fox News' coverage of the Republican National Convention.
Previously:
UPDATED: Media Reporting That Roger Ailes Is Leaving Fox News
Soon-To-Be-Former Fox CEO Roger Ailes Has A Long History Of Bigotry, Sexism, And Homophobia
Roger Ailes' Legacy: Building The GOP's Communications Arm Under The Guise Of A “News” Network