Newsmax host Greg Kelly reminded viewers on Thursday that 92-year-old News Corporation founder Rupert Murdoch is still alive, after Murdoch dominated the headlines following his resignation as chairman.
“Well number one, he’s not dead, alright?” Kelly said. “Today it sounds like he died or something like that. The testimonials, the retrospectives, I mean he’s still alive and that’s fine, right?”
Murdoch announced his “transition to the role of Chairman Emeritus” in a memo to staff on Thursday and revealed that his son Lachlan Murdoch would “become sole Chairman of both companies.”
Murdoch assured employees that he was in “robust health” and that he would remain “involved every day in the contest of ideas.”
“Our companies are communities, and I will be an active member of our community,” Murdoch vowed.
Kelly’s comments come amid a wave of speculation about Murdoch’s health and the future of his media empire. Murdoch has been a controversial figure for decades, but there is no doubt that he is one of the most influential media moguls in the world.
It remains to be seen how Murdoch’s resignation will impact his businesses, but one thing is for sure: he’s not going away quietly.