The New York Times deserves credit for breaking the story of Bill O'Reilly's $32 million settlement with a former Fox analyst, but the Times' curious euphemism for the behavior that resulted in that settlement is a jaw-dropper:
Last January, six months after Fox News ousted its chairman amid a sexual harassment scandal, the network’s top-rated host at the time, Bill O’Reilly, struck a $32 million agreement with a longtime network analyst to settle new sexual harassment allegations, according to two people briefed on the matter — an extraordinarily large amount for such cases.
Although the deal has not been previously made public, the network’s parent company, 21st Century Fox, acknowledges that it was aware of the woman’s complaints about Mr. O’Reilly. They included allegations of repeated harassment, a nonconsensual sexual relationship and the sending of gay pornography and other sexually explicit material to her, according to the people briefed on the matter. [emphasis added]
A lot of people have been wondering what O'Reilly could have done to cause him to settle for that astounding $32 million. Even the most egregious sexual harassment cases don't result in $32 million settlements, and attempts to defend O’Reilly have only further proved how awful his behavior was. How awful? The Times calls O'Reilly's behavior sexual harassment, but the real story seems to be in that curious euphemism. Let's highlight it:
They included allegations of repeated harassment, a nonconsensual sexual relationship and the sending of gay pornography and other sexually explicit material to her, according to the people briefed on the matter.
What the hell does that mean?
a nonconsensual sexual relationship
Think about it.
The Times owes its readers a clarification, because that euphemism underscores the depth of the problem. And because whatever that euphemism is trying to soft-pedal is much more than harassment. And whatever that euphemism is trying to soft-pedal must never be soft-pedaled. And by soft-pedaling it, the Times proves that it is part of the problem.