So. Matt Drudge was first to report this afternoon on Roger Ailes officially leaving Fox News. The Daily Beast independently confirmed it. But now both have walked back their reports.
Drudge splashed this at the top of the page earlier:
It’s now this. Note the statement at the top and the seriously-walked back siren:
And Drudge’s tweet appearing to show Ailes’ exit package has been taken down.
The Daily Beast had independently reported that Ailes is out, but then they subsequently reported that Fox––after initially confirming Drudge’s report––walked it back.
UPDATE –– 5:11 pm EDT: 21st Century Fox has issued a statement saying “Roger is at work.”
UPDATE –– 5:17 pm EDT: A member of Ailes’ legal team has put out this statement on today’s big news:
Roger Ailes has never sexually harassed Megyn Kelly. In fact, he has spent much of the last decade promoting and helping her to achieve the stardom she earned, for which she has repeatedly and publicly thanked him
UPDATE –– 5:41 pm EDT: NY Mag reporter Gabriel Sherman is reporting on more details of what’s happening at Fox internally:
Sources on both sides of Ailes and 21CF negotiations say situation is v fluid. One person speculates he could try to fire Megyn tonight!
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) July 19, 2016
Hearing Ailes is huddled with advisers in "full on crazy mode." He's furious that Megyn Kelly is now being credited with his ouster
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) July 19, 2016
[image via screengrab]
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