After a couple of decades of harassing women at Fox News, management has finally decided they’ve had enough. From the Wall Street Journal:
Fox News is preparing to cut ties with star anchor Bill O’Reilly, according to people close to the situation, after revelations that he and Fox parent 21st Century Fox settled multiple sexual harassment complaints led to an exodus of advertisers from his show and mounting pressure on the network.
A final resolution on the fate of Mr. O’Reilly, host of the “The O’Reilly Factor,” could come as early as the next several days, the people said.
The New York Magazine reports another credible accuser recently surfaced:
Another accuser came forward as well, claiming that O’Reilly harassed her while she was working in a clerical position at Fox in 2008. The woman, who is black, says that O’Reilly would grunt at her, leer at her cleavage and legs, and call her “hot chocolate.” Her lawyer, Lisa Bloom, said she did not report the harassment at the time because she wanted to keep her job. She recently reported her claims via a 21st Century Fox hotline, and isn’t seeking money.
Last week Bill O’Reilly announced he was going on vacation. He claimed the trip had been previously planned, but the mid-week vacation announcement came amid the news more than 60 advertisers had already fled the show.
Even his friends in the business are preemptively writing an obit for his run at Fox:
Oh, poor O’Reilly. The media is so, so brutal. He had no choice but to serially harass women in the workplace. Maybe Drudge should put himself in the high-heeled shoes of the women who had to endure creeps like O’Reilly and Ailes at Fox News.
Play us out, Bill. One last time.