The Drudge Report turned on its revolving police light to herald an exclusive Tuesday afternoon–Roger Ailes out as chairman and chief executive of Fox News. According to the report, quickly picked up by other media outlets, Ailes was set to receive a $40 million buyout package, including salary, bonuses, and benefits, according to a separation agreement obtained by The Drudge Report that shows Ailes’ last day at the network as Friday.
But a Fox News spokesperson shot down the report and FNC’s parent company, 21st Century Fox, sent out a statement saying as much: “Roger is at work. The review is ongoing. And the only agreement that is in place is his existing employment agreement.”
Not long after it went up, Drudge pulled an image of the separation agreement and changed his headline, from Ailes being fired to the far more vague Ailes Fox News Drama, which included a quote saying Ailes had never sexually harassed Fox News star Megyn Kelly.
Earlier in the day, a report in New York Magazine said that Kelly had told investigators she had been sexually harassed by Ailes a decade ago.