WASHINGTON — Roger Ailes, the former chairman and CEO of Fox News, has died at 77.
Ailes is widely considered to be the key driving force behind creating the Fox News media empire.
A statement from the family announcing his death was first obtained by The Drudge Report.
“I am profoundly sad and heartbroken to report that my husband, Roger Ailes, passed away this morning surrounded by his beautiful family. Roger was my best friend, the most wonderful loving husband and father to our son Zachary,” Ailes’ wife Elizabeth said in the statement.
The cause of death is currently unknown.
In the biography “Roger Ailes Off Camera,” Ailes said, “Because of my hemophilia, I’ve been prepared to face death all of my life.”
Ailes resigned from his position at media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation in July 2016 with a $40 million severance.
He had been dogged by allegations of sexual harassment when he stepped down and denied all accusations.
Two of the most notable harassment allegations stemmed from women who worked at Fox.
In July of 2016, former host Gretchen Carlson filed a lawsuit against Ailes in which she claimed she was fired for rebuffing the CEO’s advances.
Fox settled the suit in September of that year for a reported $20 million.
The second bombshell accusation appeared in ex-anchor Megyn Kelly’s 2016 memoir “Settle for More” in which she alleged that Ailes had harassed her a decade before she became a host at the network.
Ailes became the founding CEO of Fox News in October 1996 and was named chairman of the Fox Television Stations Group in August 2005 after Murdoch’s son Lachlan departed the company.
Ailes is credited with building Fox News into a ratings behemoth.
When he served as chairman and CEO, and with Bill O’Reilly hosting “The O’Reilly Factor” before he himself stepped down amid his own sexual harassment allegations, he pushed it to become the most-watched U.S. cable-news channel.
Elizabeth Ailes’ full statement is below:
I am profoundly sad and heartbroken to report that my husband, Roger Ailes, passed away this morning surrounded by his beautiful family. Roger was my best friend, the most wonderful loving husband and father to our son Zachary. He was a loyal friend to so many. Roger was a patriot, grateful to live in a country that gave him so much opportunity to work hard, to rise — and to give back. During a career that stretched over more than five decades, his work in entertainment, in politics, and in news affected the lives of many millions. And so even as we mourn his death, we celebrate his life.
Those who wish to join us in that celebration are encouraged to consider making a donation to the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation. This terrific organization generously provides scholarships to children who lose a parent serving in the United State Marine Corps or any Federal Law Enforcement Agency.
Finally, at this time of sorrow and grief we ask you to respect our privacy.
