Shortly after 4 p.m., Matt Drudge of The Drudge Report website, wrote on Twitter that Roger Ailes was leaving as chairman of Fox News with a $40 million financial package, after an investigation into allegations that he had sexually harassed Gretchen Carlson, a former Fox anchor. Accompanying the tweet was what appeared to be a separation agreement between Mr. Ailes and the network, which he founded 20 years ago.
The news also appeared as a banner headline on The Drudge Report in bold block letters under an image of a siren that typically signifies big, breaking news.
It appeared to be an enormous scoop for Drudge, one that sent media organizations scrambling to confirm the news. The Daily Beast published a brief article saying Fox News had confirmed that Mr. Ailes would leave the network. Variety also posted an article on its website, saying an anonymous source had confirmed that Mr. Ailes was out.
Then Drudge deleted his tweet. The banner headline on The Drudge Report was changed from the dramatic “Exclusive” wording to the milder “Ailes FoxNews Drama.” An unattributed quotation saying, in part, “Roger Ailes has never sexually harassed Megyn Kelly” also appeared above the siren. Soon, The Daily Beast amended its article to say that Fox News had “walked back” its earlier confirmation that Mr. Ailes was leaving the network.
The Drudge Report, which has become known more for its aggregation and flashy headlines than for breaking big stories, had thrown the media into full-on pandemonium. Many news outlets had been working since Monday to confirm a report in New York magazine that Mr. Ailes was on his way out.
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