News of the death came in the form of a statement from Elizabeth Ailes, his widow and wife of 20 years, provided to Matt Drudge for breaking on The Drudge Report.
Interestingly enough, the next media outlet to pick up and spread the news was Breitbart. Ailes’ brainchild Fox News came later to the game.
In her statement, Beth Ailes shared the following:
I am profoundly sad and heartbroken to report that my husband, Roger Ailes, passed away this morning. Roger 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. During a career that stretched over more than five decades, his work in entertainment, in politics, and in news affected the lives of many millions. And so even as we mourn his death, we celebrate his life . . .”
No cause of death was included in the statement and early news reports.
A possible cause has since surfaced in tweets from long-time Ailes friend Gabriel Sherman, a reporter for New York magazine.
Sherman revealed that the 77-year old Ailes suffered from hemophelia and had recently fallen in his Palm Beach home. He indicated that a blood clot formed and caused complications. He also noted that Ailes passed away alone in Garrison, New York.
None of Sherman’s information has been confirmed yet by the family. Sherman wrote a book about Ailes in the past and lauded his impact on the political and cultural worlds in America.
Discussing Ailes’ impact on politics and culture in the U.S., Sherman said, “One of Ailes’ lasting legacies will be that for millions of Americans, news is now no longer viewed as a way to be informed about the world; it’s a way of gathering information that advances your side.”
In 1996, the Ohio native founded Fox News and turned it into a media powerhouse, making it the nation’s long-running No. 1 cable news network.
By doing so, he earned the enmity of Democrats and the progressive left, whose stranglehold on television news was broken forever. Fox News became the object of demonization by Democrats like Bill and Hillary Clinton, as well as Barack Obama.
In his noon broadcast today, radio giant Rush Limbaugh paid a heartfelt tribute to AIles, calling those who attacked him and tore him down “pissants” who would never accomplish what Ailes did.
Gabriel Sherman is a New York Magazine reporter who wrote a book about Ailes released in 2014
Several days ago, Ailes called a friend and said, "Well, if you want to know if I'm suicidal the answer is no."
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) May 18, 2017
Ailes was spending time apart from his wife in recent days. Elizabeth Ailes had been in Palm Beach, Ailes was alone up in Garrison NY
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) May 18, 2017
Latest on what we know, per family friend: "Last week Ailes had some kind of blood clot in Palm Beach. Suffered complications."
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) May 18, 2017
Ailes suffered whole life from hemophelia, had multiple surgeries and joint replacements.
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) May 18, 2017
Per 2nd family friend on cause of death: Ailes fell in Palm Beach and had a blood clot from the fall. He suffered complications.
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) May 18, 2017
Breaking News: Former Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes has died, his family announced. pic.twitter.com/AksPdNSZaI
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 18, 2017
Source: NPR
Image: Ninian Reid
MURDERED LIKE SCALIA.
I thought they said today he fell in bathroom in Florida.