Bill Shine, the former co-president of Fox News, left the network on Monday amid accusations that he helped cover up sexual harassment at the company and retaliated against employees who came forward with allegations.
Fox News announced in a release on Monday that Shine “resigned and will leave the company after helping the transition over the next few weeks.”
Rupert Murdoch, the executive chairman of Fox News and Fox Business and executive chairman of parent company 21st Century Fox, called it “a significant day for all at FOX News.”
“Bill has played a huge role in building FOX News to its present position,” Murdoch said in the network’s statement.
New York Magazine’s Gabriel Sherman reported on Thursday that Murdoch’s sons James and Lachlan, the CEO and co-chairman of 21st Century Fox, refused Shine’s request for a public statement of support. Spokespersons for Shine and the Murdochs denied to New York Magazine that Shine directly asked for a statement.
Fox News talent stunned by the news of Shine's exit. "I have no idea what is going one," one host just said
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) May 1, 2017
In recent days, per source, there was talk among Fox News women about circulating a petition inside the network calling for Shine's firing.
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) May 1, 2017
Per Fox News’ announcement, Suzanne Scott will become president of programming and Jay Wallace will become president of news in the wake of Shine’s departure.
Former Fox News host Andrea Tantaros alleged in an August 2016 lawsuit that Shine responded to complaints about former CEO Roger Ailes by telling Tantaros to not “fight this” and saying she “needed to let this one go.“
In April, Fox News contributor Julie Roginsky alleged that Shine “aided and abetted Ailes’ acts of retaliation and harassment” and retaliated against her for raising complaints about Ailes’ behavior.
Tantaros said at the time that she informed Scott about the alleged harassment, and alleged in the suit that Ailes’ actions “were condoned by his most senior lieutenants.”
