According to mediate, Elizabeth Ailes, the widow of former Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes, took to Twitter on Monday to wish her late husband a happy heavenly birthday. However, her message was far from a simple tribute, as she used the occasion to criticize the current state of Fox News and its chairman, Rupert Murdoch.
In her tweet, Ailes lamented the state of Fox News since her husband’s departure, claiming that it took 20 years for him to build the network into a powerhouse, but only six years for the Murdochs to “wreak havoc” and drive it to ruin. She went on to mock Murdoch’s abilities, claiming that he could never come close to Ailes’ genius.
Roger Ailes was a powerful figure during his tenure at Fox News, and his influence shaped the political landscape and the modern format of cable news television. However, his legacy was tarnished by allegations of sexual harassment, which led to his ouster from the network in 2016. He passed away a year later.
In the years since Ailes’ departure, Rupert Murdoch’s conservative son, Lachlan Murdoch, has taken over as CEO of Fox Corporation, and has frequently defended the right-wing opinions espoused by Fox News. However, some conservatives have been critical of the network’s refusal to indulge Donald Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud, particularly after the network fired popular host Tucker Carlson.
Elizabeth Ailes’ tweet is just the latest example of the ongoing rift between some conservatives and the Murdoch family over the direction of Fox News. While the network remains a powerful force in the conservative media landscape, it has faced increasing criticism from both the left and the right in recent years.
Happy Heavenly Birthday Roger Ailes. It took you 20 years to build Fox News into the powerhouse that it was and only 6 years for the Murdochs to wreak havoc. Rupert thought he could do your job. What a joke. He has the checkbook but could never come close to your genius. RIP. pic.twitter.com/UqQHhS5Uvz
— ELIZABETH AILES (@ELIZABETH_AILES) May 15, 2023
