Rupert Mudorch's Divorce Settlement Prevents Ex-Wife From Talking to Succession Writers

Rupert Murdoch is never going to beat the Logan Roy allegations (and vice versa). We aren't saying they're exactly alike, okay? Brian Cox dispelled any murmurs, too. But there are some... coincidences. Anyway, maybe the biggest difference between them, apart from the obvious, is that Murdoch is sort of going through a shitstorm at the moment. 

Fox News is in the middle of a lawsuit. His engagement to Ann Lesley Smith just fell through. And yeah, he's fresh off a divorce last summer from Jerry Hall (yes, we're still not over the fact that the conservative media tycoon married Mick Jagger's ex-wife). This is a tough time even Logan never went through himself.

Succession and the Roy family has sort of inadvertently shone the spotlight on the Murdoch family, too. So much so that even the Fox News patriarch has to acknowledge the HBO hit show. He's made it clear that he doesn't want his ex-wife talking to anyone on the show. According to Vanity Fair, Murdoch namedropped the show in his divorce settlement.

Photo by HBO.

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"At the age of 91, Murdoch blew up his fourth marriage," Vanity Fair writes. "Hall was waiting for Murdoch to meet her at their Oxfordshire estate last June when she checked her phone. 'Jerry, sadly I’ve decided to call an end to our marriage,' Murdoch’s email began, according to a screenshot I read. 'We have certainly had some good times, but I have much to do…My New York lawyer will be contacting yours immediately.'"

Murdoch's lawyers would then add a clause where the ex-model was banned from giving story ideas to writers. They'd finalize the divorce last August and the billionaire would soon be found cozying up with new girlfriend Ann Lesley Smith.

The story comes during a troubling time for the notorious media proprietor. His health is reportedly not in the best condition, his engagement's toast, and yeah, lest we forget, he's 92 fucking years old. Not to mention, included in the report are sources who tell the publication that one of Murdoch's own sons, James, was leaking stories to the series' writers. Although the elder Murdoch son, Lachlan, denied ever telling this to his father.

It's not difficult to see how the Murdoch family inspired the Roys. Fox News and Waystar Co; Six children to four, all of which wrestling for the empire's reigns; and an aging billionaire with a ton of ex-wives and all the power in the world. We're wondering if Logan ever added any bans like these himself. Yup. He probably would've.