Roger Ailes, who led a revival of conservative American politics at the helm of the powerful Fox News media empire until he was forced out in a sexual harassment scandal, has died, the network announced Thursday. Fox's hosts held back tears as they read a statement from Ailes' wife Elizabeth announcing the death, at the age of 77, of the co-founder of the cable giant and consultant to several Republican presidents.
A long-time confidant of media titan Rupert Murdoch who became a central figure in the conservative US political movement, Ailes stood down at Fox in July last year under the cloud of a sexual harassment lawsuit from former news host Gretchen Carlson - one of a string of such allegations against him.
"I am profoundly sad and heartbroken to report that my husband, Roger Ailes, passed away this morning," said the statement from his wife. Ailes, she said, "was a loving husband to me, to his son Zachary, and a loyal friend to many. He was also a patriot, profoundly grateful to live in a country that gave him so much opportunity to work hard, to rise - and to give back." There was no immediate indication of the cause of death.
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