--- description: Embattled Fox News CEO Roger Ailes resigned from the network Thursday in the wake of sexual harassment accusations title: Roger Ailes Resigns From Fox News Amid Sexual Harassment Accusations image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1a0988786031b349/69889c9dcd1bbadde770189a/roger-ailes-fox-news.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Business](/section/business/) ## Business Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Media](/tag/media/) ## Media Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Roger Ailes Resigns From Fox News Amid Sexual Harassment Accusations  by [Katie Reilly](/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Updated: Dec 13, 2023 5:52 AM CUTPublished: Jul 21, 2016 8:15 PM CUT  Roger Ailes attends the Hollywood Reporter celebration of "The 35 Most Powerful People in Media" at the Four Season Grill Room in New York, on April 11, 2012. Roger Ailes attends the Hollywood Reporter celebration of "The 35 Most Powerful People in Media" at the Four Season Grill Room in New York, on April 11, 2012.Stephen Lovekin—Getty Images  by [Katie Reilly](/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Updated: Dec 13, 2023 5:52 AM CUTPublished: Jul 21, 2016 8:15 PM CUT Embattled Fox News CEO Roger Ailes [resigned](https://www.21cf.com/news/21st-century-fox/2016/roger-ailes-resigns-chairman-and-ceo-fox-news-channel "undefined") from the network Thursday in the wake of [sexual harassment accusations](http://time.com/4409289/fox-news-roger-ailes-gretchen-carlson-arbitration-public-trial/ "undefined") by former anchor [Gretchen Carlson](http://time.com/4396912/gretchen-carlson-memoir-sexual-harassment/?iid=sr-link3 "undefined") and other female employees. 21st Century Fox Executive Chairman Rupert Murdoch will become the Chairman and acting CEO of Fox News and Fox Business Network in the wake of Ailes’ departure. “Roger Ailes has made a remarkable contribution to our company and our country,” Murdoch said in a statement. “Roger shared my vision of a great and independent television organization and executed it brilliantly over 20 great years.” Carlson’s lawsuit alleges that she was fired from the network for refusing to sleep with Ailes and for voicing objections to what she felt was a discriminatory workplace environment. [More women](http://time.com/4399965/roger-ailes-sexual-harassment/ "undefined") have since accused Ailes of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior spanning decades. Attorneys for Ailes have consistently denied the accusations, arguing Carlson’s contract was simply not renewed. 21st Century Fox did not mention the harassment suit in its announcement of Ailes’ resignation. The company [pushed back earlier this week](http://time.com/4411018/roger-ailes-fox-news-rupert-murdoch/?iid=sr-link6 "undefined") against reports that Ailes, 76, would be removed from his post. At the time, a spokesman for 21st Century Fox said an internal review of the lawsuit was “not concluded.” Carlson’s attorneys hailed the resignation as victory. “Within just two weeks of her filing a lawsuit against Roger Ailes, Gretchen Carlson’s extraordinary courage has caused a seismic shift in the media world. We hope that all businesses now understand that women will no longer tolerate sexual harassment and reputable companies will no longer shield those who abuse women,” the attorneys said in a statement. “We thank all the brave women who spoke out about this issue. We will have more to say in coming days as events unfold.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4413767/roger-ailes-fox-news-resigns-rupert-murdoch/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4413767/roger-ailes-fox-news-resigns-rupert-murdoch/"},"headline":"Roger Ailes Resigns From Fox News Amid Sexual Harassment Accusations","datePublished":"2016-07-21T20:15:52.000Z","dateModified":"2023-12-13T05:52:07.000Z","description":"The news comes after a sexual harassment suit by former anchor Gretchen Carlson","url":"https://time.com/4413767/roger-ailes-fox-news-resigns-rupert-murdoch/","keywords":["Media"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1a0988786031b349/69889c9dcd1bbadde770189a/roger-ailes-fox-news.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Katie Reilly","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/"}],"articleSection":"Business","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1a0988786031b349/69889c9dcd1bbadde770189a/roger-ailes-fox-news.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"The Hollywood Reporter Celebrates \"The 35 Most Powerful People In Media\" - Arrivals","caption":"The Hollywood Reporter Celebrates \"The 35 Most Powerful People In Media\" - Arrivals","creditText":"Stephen Lovekin—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/business/","name":"Business"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/media/","name":"Media"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4413767/roger-ailes-fox-news-resigns-rupert-murdoch/","name":"Roger Ailes Resigns From Fox News Amid Sexual Harassment Accusations"}}]}] ```