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Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly claims in her coming memoir that former Fox News Chief Executive Roger Ailes repeatedly sexually harassed her soon after she joined the network as a Washington correspondent in 2004.

Details of the chapter about her former boss in her autobiography "Settle for More" were earlier reported by Radar Online. A person familiar with the book, which is being released on Nov. 15, verified the website's description of the chapter.

In the book, Ms. Kelly says Mr. Ailes first made inappropriate remarks about her clothing and then suggested she could climb the ladder at the network faster if she slept with him, according to Radar. In 2006, he repeatedly tried to kiss her, and when she shoved him away, asked when her contract was up, Ms. Kelly writes. She says she rejected all of his advances.

The memoir is being published by HarperCollins Publishers, a unit of News Corp, which also owns The Wall Street Journal. News Corp and Fox News parent 21st Century Fox share common ownership.

Susan Estrich, an attorney for Mr. Ailes, said he denies Ms. Kelly's "allegations of sexual harassment or misconduct of any kind." Ms. Estrich pointed to comments Ms. Kelly made last year in an appearance on the "Charlie Rose" show, during which she said: "I really care about Roger. And he has been nothing but good to me. And he's been very loyal. And he's had my back. And he's looked out for me."

A spokesman for 21st Century Fox declined to comment on Ms. Kelly's book.

The chapter recounting the alleged harassment was a late addition to the book, which a person familiar with the matter said was due at its publisher in late spring. That was roughly two months before Mr. Ailes's resignation as the network's chairman and CEO in July after another Fox News anchor—Gretchen Carlson—filed a sexual-harassment suit against him.

Ms. Carlson's lawsuit prompted an investigation by 21st Century Fox that found others claim to have had similar experiences. 21st Century Fox, which has said it was unaware of Mr. Ailes's alleged behavior until Ms. Carlson's suit, subsequently settled the suit for $20 million.

Mr. Ailes has previously denied all accusations of harassment.

The book would mark the first time that Ms. Kelly, host of the popular program "The Kelly File," has publicly made harassment allegations against Mr. Ailes. Other high-profile on-air personalities including Maria Bartiromo and former anchor Greta Van Susteren defended Mr. Ailes in the wake of Ms. Carlson's lawsuit.

In the book, Ms. Kelly said she was pressured to put out a positive statement about Mr. Ailes following Ms. Carlson's lawsuit but refused, according to Radar. Ms. Kelly participated in the internal investigation that turned up several accusations of sexual misconduct by Mr. Ailes and led to his downfall, people familiar with the matter said.

Ms. Kelly said the harassment by Mr. Ailes stopped after six months, once she complained to a supervisor, according to Radar's summary of the chapter, which didn't identify the supervisor.

Through a Fox News representative, commentator Brit Hume, who was the managing editor of Fox News' Washington bureau and her supervisor at the time, said: "Megyn Kelly never made a sexual harassment complaint to me."

The book and the leak to Radar come at a sensitive time for Ms. Kelly. Her contract is up next July, and Fox News has made her an offer to remain with the network that would pay her more than $20 million annually, according to a person familiar with the matter. Ms. Kelly currently makes $15 million a year, people with knowledge of her deal said.

Rupert Murdoch, co-executive chairman of 21st Century Fox and CEO of Fox News, has indicated that he wants Ms. Kelly to remain with the network and that money isn't an issue. In a recent Wall Street Journal interview, however, he said the channel has a "deep bench," and that others there "would give their right arm for her spot."

Ms. Kelly—whose profile rose after she took on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump over his treatment of women—might want to field offers from other networks. The window in her contract for her to talk to other networks doesn't officially open until April, a person familiar with her agreement said.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 03, 2016 17:35 ET (21:35 GMT)

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