The ongoing court battle within the Murdoch family has laid bare the deep divisions and power struggles between its members.
A recent trial has provided a rare glimpse into the internal conflict surrounding the future of News Corp, revealing the chaos that has unfolded since Rupert Murdoch decided to appoint his son Lachlan as his successor.
In what was called "Project Family Harmony," Rupert Murdoch informed his children, James, Prudence, and Elisabeth, that he was naming Lachlan as the sole heir to the family empire, The Guardian said.
This decision marked a departure from the previous arrangement, where the family trust was to be split evenly.
However, Rupert's move to give full control to Lachlan was met with resistance, and James ultimately lost his bid to take the reins in December 2024.
James Murdoch has long been seen as a rival to his older brother Lachlan, with tensions within the family growing over the years.
According to McKay Coppins' interview, James voiced his concerns about News Corp's stance on critical issues such as climate change, Brexit, and Trump's politics.
The interview also revealed that a former News Corp employee claimed Lachlan had referred to the media business as "ShitCo," though Lachlan's spokesperson denied this assertion.
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James Murdoch lays bare his relationship with ‘misogynist’ father amid succession fight in rare interview.
Rupert Murdoch’s second son reveals bitter details that set the scene for court battle for News Corp empire. pic.twitter.com/d75Hhv282Y
Murdoch Family Feud Deepens as James Accuses Rupert of Favoring Male Heirs
Discussing the family dynamic, James accused his father Rupert of being a "misogynist," highlighting the exclusion of his sisters, Prudence and Elisabeth, from the succession battle.
As the company's control was passed between the male Murdochs, James became increasingly uncomfortable with News Corp's editorial direction and political affiliations.
James's disillusionment with News Corp became evident during the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires.
According to LiveMint, he and his wife, Kathryn Hufschmid, expressed frustration with the company's denial of climate change, a stance reflected in their public statement criticizing News Corp's coverage. Later in 2020, James resigned from the News Corp board, further signaling his departure from the family business.
As tensions escalated, James and Rupert's relationship deteriorated. Coppins' interview sheds light on their fractured bond, including a handwritten note from Rupert to James, asking for a conversation.
Despite the gesture, James did not respond, recalling that he couldn't remember the last time his father had shown interest in his grandchildren.
During the court proceedings, Rupert's lawyer subjected James to a series of pointed questions, questioning his personal achievements.
James soon realized that Rupert, sitting silently in the courtroom, was secretly texting the questions to the lawyer. Describing the experience as "How f.... twisted is that?" James highlighted the depth of the divide between him and his father.
After the trial concluded during Thanksgiving 2024, James and his sisters wrote a letter to Rupert, expressing their desire to mend the family rift.
They urged him to end the legal battles so they could rebuild their relationships. However, Rupert responded by directing them to contact his lawyers for any further discussions.
Following James' interview, a spokesperson for Rupert and Lachlan dismissed his statements as a "litany of falsehoods" and emphasized that although James no longer works for the companies, he still benefits financially from them.
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