21st Century Fox Contradicts Roger Ailes: He Will No Longer Report to Rupert Murdoch

Last week, after Rupert Murdoch announced he was stepping down as CEO of 21st Century Fox and handing the reins over to his sons, James and Lachlan Murdoch, Fox News chairman Roger Ailes seemed to think not much would change in his day-to-day operations.

“My job is to report to Rupert, and I expect that to continue,” Ailes told Variety in an interview on Thursday.

Fox’s own media reporter Howard Kurtz confirmed as much on Twitter that same morning:

Rupert Murdoch will become executive chairman with two sons, James & Lachlan, in top roles. Roger Ailes will still report to Rupert, co says

— HowardKurtz (@HowardKurtz) June 11, 2015

But now, 21st Century Fox spokesperson Nathaniel Brown has directly contradicted that claim in statement to The Hollywood Reporter published Tuesday afternoon.

“Roger will report to Lachlan and James but will continue his unique and long-standing relationship with Rupert,” Brown said definitively of the change, which will go into effect on July 1.

[Photo via screengrab]

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