And so even as we mourn his death, we celebrate his life…”

The parent company of Fox News Channel, Twenty-First Century Fox, has paid $45 million in settlements related to sexual harassment allegations against former CEO Roger Ailes. 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. He is survived by his third wife, the former Elizabeth Tilson, the publisher of two weekly newspapers in Putnam County, N.Y., the family’s home, and their son, Zachary. Ailes’ wife, Elizabeth, released the following statement:

 

 “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. A complete list of survivors was not immediately available. By the 2012 campaign, candidates in the Republican primaries were choosing to appear almost exclusively on Fox, racking up more than 600 appearances on Fox News and its sister channel, Fox Business, while making only scant visits to other cable news channels. Ailes denied accusations that he built a culture at Fox that encouraged sexual harassment, after a lawsuit by former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson prompted other women at the network, including high-profile anchor Megyn Kelly, to step forward with similar claims.
Roger Ailes, the former Chairman and founding CEO of Fox News, dies at the age of 77.