Fox Anchor Kelly Says in Memoir That Ex-CEO Ailes Harassed Her
November 03 2016 - 5:50PM
Dow Jones News
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)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
News (NASDAQ:NWSA)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2024 to May 2024
News (NASDAQ:NWSA)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2023 to May 2024