The network is officially parting ways with the embattled TV journalist after his show lost advertisers due to sexual harassment accusations against him.
- Apr 20, 2017
AceShowbiz - Fox News officially fired Bill O'Reilly following a series of sexual harassment accusations against him. The company said in a statement on Wednesday, April 19, "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."
O'Reilly has been on vacation and was last seen on "The O'Reilly Factor" on Tuesday, April 11, during when he announced his two week hiatus. The show had lost numerous advertisers after news about Fox News paying out more than $13 million to settle five separate sexual harassment lawsuits against him broke.
O'Reilly reportedly received a hefty cash to settle his contract, about $13 million, according to The New York Times. Tucker Carlson, who currently anchors the 9 P.M. slot, has reportedly been tapped to take over O'Reilly's 8 P.M. slot.
O'Reilly has expressed his disappointment for being forced out of Fox News. He said in a statement, "Over the past 20 years at Fox News, I have been extremely proud to launch and lead one of the most successful news programs in history, which has consistently informed and entertained millions of Americans and significantly contributed to building Fox into the dominant news network in television."
"It is tremendously disheartening that we part ways due to completely unfounded claims," he added. "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."
Meanwhile, many celebrities took to Twitter to react to O'Reilly firing. "A WIN for Women & the Men who Respect them," Debra Messing wrote.
A WIN for Women & the Men who Respect them. https://t.co/lXJbyJlfih
— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) April 19, 2017
Stephen Colbert quipped, "Say what you will, but Bill O'Reilly always had your back. And if you were a woman, he might try for your front, too. #RipPapaBear #LSSC."
Say what you will, but Bill O'Reilly always had your back. And if you were a woman, he might try for your front, too. #RipPapaBear #LSSC
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) April 20, 2017
Jesse Williams said, "BYE chump. Weak sauce Bill O'reilly been out here sellin' that hard white for far too long on fox news. #OneBattleAmongMany #BackToWork."
BYE chump.
Weak sauce Bill O'reilly been out here sellin' that hard white for far too long on fox news. #OneBattleAmongMany #BackToWork pic.twitter.com/yFc4ZUIF0A
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 19, 2017
Mia Farrow added, "Fox firing Bill O'Reilly is huge and hopefully sends an effective signal to all guys, however powerful, who harass & maul women."
Fox firing Bill O'Reilly is huge and hopefully sends an effective signal to all guys, however powerful, who harass & maul women
— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) April 19, 2017
Billy Eichner tweeted, "Goodbye @oreillyfactor! What a terrible day to be a horrible, old, racist white person," and added in another post, "I'm certainly a narcissistic actor who loves attention but I take no joy in Bill O'Reilly. He's a disgusting pig & Fox News is still garbage."
Goodbye @oreillyfactor! What a terrible day to be a horrible, old, racist white person.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) April 19, 2017
I'm certainly a narcissistic actor who loves attention but I take no joy in Bill O'Reilly. He's a disgusting pig & Fox News is still garbage
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) April 19, 2017
Cher and Yvette Nicole Brown, meanwhile, expressed their disappointment that President Donald Trump got away with similar scandal. "3 FAMOUS OLD MEN...ROGER AILELS, BILL O'REILLY,& DONALD TRUMP HAVE SEXUALLY HARASSED WOMEN 4 YRS,TWO GOT FIRED,& ONE WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT," Cher wrote.
Brown echoed the sentiment, "So #RogerAiles & @OReillyFactor were pushed out for sexual harassment & abuse but ol' dude grabs nether regions & becomes president? Mmkay." She wrote in another post, "ICYMI @FoxNews has been settling w/ women for YEARS they only cut @oreillyfactor loose because they were losing $$$ #ProfitsOverPeople #MAGA."3 FAMOUS OLD MEN…ROGER AILELS,
BILL O’REILLY,& DONALD TRUMP HAVE SEXUALLY HARASSED WOMEN 4 YRS,TWO GOT FIRED,& ONE WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT‼️
— Cher (@cher) April 19, 2017
So #RogerAiles & @OReillyFactor were pushed out for sexual harassment & abuse but ol' dude grabs nether regions & becomes president? Mmkay😒
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) April 19, 2017
ICYMI @FoxNews has been settling w/ women for YEARS they only cut @oreillyfactor loose because they were losing $$$ #ProfitsOverPeople #MAGA
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) April 19, 2017
