Donald Trump is sticking by Bill O'Reilly.
The Fox News host has long been the network's top talent, with a show ranked No. 1 in cable news. But O'Reilly has found himself at the center of a controversy recently, following a New York Times report highlighting five sexual harassment lawsuits that he's settled.
O'Reilly has been accused of settling suits totaling around $13 million. One suit, with a producer, accounted for $9 million of that money. All of the women who filed claims against O'Reilly were reportedly staff members of his show or guests who appeared on it. Their claims ran the gamut from verbal abuse to vulgar comments to unwanted advances. The Times reported that some women complained about phone calls in which it sounded like O'Reilly was masturbating.
RELATED STORIES
Trump brushed off those claims Wednesday. "I think he's a person I know well—he is a good person," the president said in an interview with the Times. "I think he shouldn't have settled; personally I think he shouldn't have settled," he said. "Because you should have taken it all the way. I don't think Bill did anything wrong."
Trump has his own controversial history with sexual assault claims. After a tape was released in October 2016 of Trump talking to then-co-anchor of Access Hollywood Billy Bush about grabbing women's genitals, multiple women came forward to accuse him of harassment.
It's important to note that settling a suit does not prove that someone is guilty. Many legal experts acknowledge that some high-profile people or companies choose to settle suits in order to avoid costly verdicts against them or the embarrassment of going to trial. O'Reilly has said the claims against him have no merit.
Follow Marie Claire on Facebook for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.
-
The Then-Kate Middleton “Significantly Changed Her Appearance to Become More Appropriate” Before Prince William ProposedOut went the low-rise jeans and spaghetti straps of the mid-2000s.
-
Chrissy Goes Casual For Her Date Night With John Legend
Pants that double for date night and pajamas!
-
A Sneak Peek at Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump in the Upcoming Biopic, “The Apprentice”
And he's eating a sandwich!
-
36 Ways Women Still Aren't Equal to Men
It's just one of the many ways women still aren't equal to men.
-
How New York's First Female Governor Plans to Fight for Women If Reelected
Kathy Hochul twice came to power because men resigned amid sexual harassment scandals. Here, how she's leading differently.
-
Why the 2022 Midterm Elections Are So Critical
As we blaze through a highly charged midterm election season, Swing Left Executive Director Yasmin Radjy highlights rising stars who are fighting for women’s rights.
-
Tammy Duckworth: 'I’m Mad as Hell' About the Lack of Federal Action on Gun Safety
The Illinois Senator won't let the memory of the Highland Park shooting just fade away.
-
Roe Is Gone. We Have to Keep Fighting.
Democracy always offers a path forward even when we feel thrust into the past.
-
The Supreme Court's Mississippi Abortion Rights Case: What to Know
The case could threaten Roe v. Wade.
-
Sex Trafficking Victims Are Being Punished. A New Law Could Change That.
Victims of sexual abuse are quietly criminalized. Sara's Law protects kids that fight back.
-
My Family and I Live in Navajo Nation. We Don't Have Access to Clean Running Water
"They say that the United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Why are citizens still living with no access to clean water?"
