Fox News Channel says it terminated its EVP Corporate Communications and longtime Roger Ailes confidante Brian Lewis last month. “After an extensive internal investigation of Brian Lewis’ conduct by Fox News, it was determined that he should be terminated for cause”, the network said in a statement, citing also “multiple, material and significant breaches of his employment contract”.
Fox News said Lewis was “terminated for cause” on 7/25, but word of his departure leaked out.
Lewis was also a senior adviser to CEO Ailes, with whom he’d also worked at NBC cable netAmerica’s Talking, before Ailes was hired to launch FNC in ’96. Lewis was one of Ailes’ first FNC hires and, when Roger added oversight of the Fox TV stations, Lewis also gained additional responsibilities on that front, as well as 20th TV.
The Hollywood Reporter says their close relationship made it difficult for Ailes to cut Lewis loose, but the financial issues his actions raised — details of which were not available Tuesday — coupled with complaints about complacency and other matters, left Ailes feeling as if he had no other choice.
