Roger Ailes 'is to be removed' as Fox News CEO by Rupert Murdoch and sons

The 76-year-old 'Fox News' executive has denied the allegations contained in the lawsuit

Roger Ailes (Getty)

Rupert Murdoch and his sons have reportedly unanimously decided to oust Roger Ailes, the head of Fox News, who is at the centre of a sexual harassment lawsuit.

A report in the US media said Mr Murdoch and his sons, Lachlan and James, had settled on removing the 76-year-old after reviewing the initial findings of a probe into the allegation of sexual harassment, filed by former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson.

New York magazine said that after looking at the findings of the investigation being conducted by New York law firm Paul, Weiss, James Murdoch said Mr Ailes, the CEO and chairman of Fox News, should be presented with a choice this week to resign or face being fired.

(Getty Images) (Getty)

It said that Lachlan Murdoch and his father said no action should be taken until the Republican National Convention, which is taking place this week, was completed. But it said that all three were in agreement that the controversial Mr Ailes should go.

On Monday, a spokesman for 21st Century Fox, the parent company of Fox News, said in a statement: “This matter is not yet resolved and the review is not concluded.”

Earlier this month, former Fox & Friends co-host Ms Carlson alleged in a lawsuit that Mr Ailes, did not renew her contract as she rebuffed his sexual advances and she challenged a “sexist” newsroom culture.

James Murdoch speaks to students in Florence on Monday (Bloomberg Finance)

Ms Carlson said she was ostracised by the news network because she had refused to accept condescending treatment from the married CEO.

Mr Ailes has rejected Ms Carlson’s allegations. “This is a retaliatory suit for the network’s decision not to renew her contract, which was due to the fact that her disappointingly low ratings were dragging down the afternoon lineup,” he said in a statement.