After more than two decades at Fox News Bill O’Reilly will not be returning to the network. The announcement came from 21st Century Fox on Wednesday afternoon less than a week after the New York Times reported that five women had been paid a total of $13 million to settle sexual harassment claims against O’Reilly.
“After a thorough and careful review of the allegations the company and Bill O’Reilly have agreed that Bill O’Reilly will not be returning to the Fox News Channel” 21st Century Fox said in a statement.
O’Reilly has been the network’s most popular host and his show “The O’Reilly Factor” was the most watched program in cable news. But he has been dogged by sexual harassment allegations for years and the Times report last week appears to have been the final straw.
In a statement O’Reilly said: “It is tremendously disheartening that we part ways due to completely unfounded claims. But that is the unfortunate reality many of us in the public eye must live with today. I will always look back on my time at Fox with great pride in the unprecedented success we achieved and with my deepest gratitude to all my dedicated viewers. I wish only the best for Fox News Channel.”
O’Reilly’s departure from Fox News is a huge blow to the network and it comes at a time when the network is already under immense scrutiny. Fox News is facing multiple lawsuits alleging that it tolerated a culture of sexual harassment and its former chairman and CEO Roger Ailes was forced to resign last year amid his own sexual harassment scandal.
TheNew York Times report last week that set off O’Reilly’s ouster detailed payouts made to five women to settle sexual harassment claims against him. The Times reported that two of the settlements came after Fox News executives were aware of the allegations.
One of the women Andrea Mackris a former producer on “The O’Reilly Factor” accused O’Reilly of making lewd and sexually explicit phone calls to her including one in which he allegedly masturbated. Another woman Laurie Dhue accused O’Reilly of making suggestive and demeaning comments to her including calling her “hot chocolate.”
In response to the Times report O’Reilly issued a statement saying that he had been “vulnerable to lawsuits” because of his high-profile job but he denied any wrongdoing. “Just like other prominent and controversial people I’m vulnerable to lawsuits from individuals who want me to pay them to avoid negative publicity” he said. “In my more than 20 years at Fox News Channel no one has ever filed a complaint about me with the Human Resources Department even on the anonymous hotline.”
21st Century Fox said in its statement on Wednesday that it “takes matters of workplace behavior very seriously” and noted that O’Reilly had been “subject to a thorough and careful review” of the sexual harassment allegations.
The network also said that it “has confidence that Mr. O’Reilly will continue to be a strong voice for the Fox News Channel.”
O’Reilly’s departure from Fox News is a huge loss for the network and it will be interesting to see how the network handles his show in the future.
How much money did Bill O’Reilly receive in his settlement with Fox News?
$25 million.
When was the last time Bill O’Reilly appeared on Fox News?
April 11th 2017.
Who accused Bill O’Reilly of sexual harassment?
Wendy Walsh a radio host was the first to come forward publicly.
What was the name of the book that Bill O’Reilly wrote about the assassination of John F.
Kennedy?
Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot.
How many books has Bill O’Reilly written?
14.
When was Bill O’Reilly born?
September 10th 1949.
What was the name of the television news program that Bill O’Reilly hosted for six years?
Inside Edition.
What university did Bill O’Reilly attend?
Marist College.
In what year did Bill O’Reilly join Fox News?
1996.
What is the name of Bill O’Reilly’s podcast?
No Spin News.
How many Primetime Emmy Awards has Bill O’Reilly won?
2.
What was the topic of Bill O’Reilly’s doctoral thesis?
The History of the Irish Americans in the United States.
How many children does Bill O’Reilly have?
3.
What is the name of Bill O’Reilly’s first book?
Those Who Trespass: A Novel of Television and Murder.
What is the name of Bill O’Reilly’s talk radio program?
The Radio Factor.
