Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — A spokesperson for 21st Century Fox has responded to a report that Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes will soon leave his position.
“This matter is not yet resolved and the review is not concluded,” Nathaniel Brown, senior vice president, Corporate Affairs and Communications, at the parent company of Fox News, said in a statement. He did not elaborate further.
His comment comes in the wake of a report published by New York Magazine that suggested Ailes would soon be given a choice to resign or be fired from Fox News, after allegations of sexual harassment from former Fox News anchorwoman, Gretchen Carlson.
Citing several unnamed sources, the report claims that Rupert Murdoch and his two sons, Lachlan and James, both executives with the parent company, are debating when — not if — Ailes will depart the network.
Lachlan and his father reportedly believe that Ailes should remain in his post until the Republican National Convention concludes, while James reportedly believes that the departure should come sooner, according to New York Magazine.
Carlson, a mainstay of the network for 11 years, left Fox News on June 23 and shortly afterward filed a lawsuit against her former boss. In it, she alleges that Ailes had “sabotaged” her career after she “refused his sexual advances,” and that her job was terminated on June 23 in retaliation for rebuffing him and complaining to him about sexual harassment.
Fox News and Ailes have denied Carlson’s allegations.
“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.”
Monday, Carlson’s team responded in a court filing in which they said that Carlson “has not waived her right to a jury trial and that none of the Plaintiff’s claims are subject to a valid or applicable arbitration agreement,” arguing that her contract was with Fox News and not Ailes.
“Gretchen Carlson maintains that Defendant Ailes’ contradictory legal maneuvers and judge shopping should not prevail,” Nancy Smith, an attorney for Carlson, said Monday. “We think our arguments should prevail — Gretchen never waived her statutory and Constitutional rights to a jury trial.”
A spokesperson for Fox News has, in the past, said that Carlson “never lodged a sexual harassment complaint with FOX News’ Human Resources or Legal departments during her tenure with the network.”
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