Fox News mogul Rupert Murdoch and his fiancée have abruptly called off their engagement.
Sources close to the 92-year-old media baron and familiar with the situation told Vanity Fair that he and 66-year-old Ann Lesley Smith, an ex-dental hygienist who became a conservative radio host, had planned to marry this summer, less than a year after he finalized his divorce from his fourth wife Jerry Hall.
According to at least one source, Murdoch had become uncomfortable with Smith’s very outspoken evangelical views.
The couple were first introduced to the world when they were photographed together vacationing in Barbados in January, and the following month Murdoch reportedly planned to buy a $30 million residence near Central Park South in Manhattan for his new bride.
They announced their engagement last month in the Murdoch-owned New York Post, and the Daily Mail reported last week that he had proposed to Smith with an 11-carat diamond engagement ring that is believed to be worth up to $2.5 million dollars.
So, if nothing else, Smith will have some walking around money looking forward thanks to Rupert Murdoch. (maybe we will see her on Pawn Stars soon?)
Murdoch is currently in the middle of a huge lawsuit filed by Dominion voting systems where it is alleged that Fox News knowingly put out false and defamatory information about the company from dubious sources like Syndey Powell, a Trump lawyer. Her “source” was a friend who was a “time traveler” and had other “special” abilities. Behind the scenes, it is alleged that the producers and hosts of various Fox programs knew the information was bogus but aired it anyway to appease their viewers, keep their stock price high, as well as their ratings.
Court filings have backed up most, if not all of the allegations.
The case is set to go to trial later this month with jury selections to begin in about a week from now. So far, there have been no reports of Dominion wanting to settle the case or Rupert Murdoch and the Fox attorneys making any offers to settle the case.
