Fox & Friends anchors Steve Doocy, Aainsley Earhardt and Brian Kilmeade were tasked with announcing to Fox News viewers that founder and former CEO Roger Ailes died today.
In the above report, Doocy and Earhardt read from Elizabeth Ailes’ statement issued to The Drudge Report.
“I am profoundly sad and heartbroken to report that my husband, Roger Ailes, passed away this morning. Roger was a loving husband to me, to his son Zachary, and a loyal friend to many,” Elizabeth wrote. “He was also a patriot, profoundly 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.”
After Doocy announced the news, a stunned Kilmeade just said, “Wow.”
Earhardt was visibly shaken by the news. Elizabeth is in “our thoughts and our prayers, and so is Zachary, beautiful son,” Eerhardt said. “Roger, rest in peace.”
Ailes died at age 77. Although Elizabeth didn’t reveal the cause of death herself, New York Magazine’s Gabriel Sherman reported that Ailes fell in his Palm Beach home last week and had a blood clot from the fall. Sherman also reported that Ailes suffered from hemophilia his entire life and had multiple joint replacements and multiple surgeries.
Ailes was the founding CEO of Fox News, launching the company with Rupert Murdoch in 1996. It rose to become the most-watched cable news network in the country and was highly influential in shaping the policies of Republican politicians. After he resigned from Fox News in July following mounting sexual harassment claims, he advised Donald Trump during his successful campaign. Ailes reportedly received a $40 million severance package.
“Everybody at Fox News is shocked and grieved by the death of Roger Ailes,” Rupert Murdoch, the executive chairman of Fox News and 21st Century Fox, said in a statement. “A brilliant broadcaster, Roger played a huge role in shaping America’s media over the last thirty years. He will be remembered by the many people on both sides of the camera that he discovered, nurtured and promoted. Roger and I shared a big idea which he executed in a way no one else could have. In addition, Roger was a great patriot who never ceased fighting for his beliefs. At 21st Century Fox we will always be enormously grateful for the great business he built. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Elizabeth and son Zachary.”
