Roger Ailes Dead At 77

ROGER AILES DEAD

— MATT DRUDGE (@DRUDGE) May 18, 2017

Media giant Roger Ailes, who resigned as chairman and CEO of Fox News amid sexual harassment allegations last year, has died at the age of 77. His death was first reported by the Drudge Report. No cause of death was given.

The statement shared by his wife Elizabeth Ailes read as follows:

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. 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…

Shortly after, Fox confirmed:

Breaking News: Former Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes has died, his family announced. pic.twitter.com/AksPdNSZaI

— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 18, 2017

Brian Kilmeade, a Fox News host, said on the channel that Ailes “helped build Fox News Channel into the powerhouse it is today.”

Ailes founded Fox News and helped shape the modern cable news landscape in the process. For the last 15 years, the conservative outlet regularly trounced its arch rival CNN in the ratings.

But his time with the network and his association with Mr Murdoch ended in disgrace last year when he was fired following an investigation into claims that he sexually harassed Gretchen Carlson, a former presenter.

Ailes resigned as head of Fox News in July 2016 after 20 years leading the network, amid allegations that he sexually harassed Gretchen Carlson, a former presenter.