Update 4/19: Bill O'Reilly has released a statement to the media in response to 21st Century Fox's announcement of his departure:
BREAKING: Statement from Bill O'Reilly, who is currently on a plane back from Italy >> pic.twitter.com/UCnUjNQSrSApril 19, 2017
Original Story 4/19: Bill O'Reilly, the host of the popular Fox News show The O'Reilly Factor, is out at the network after a string of sexual harassment allegations, Fox announced Wednesday. The decision comes after a New York Times investigation (opens in new tab) claimed that the network stood by O'Reilly despite multiple allegations of sexual harassment; the report alleged the network and O'Reilly reached settlements with five accusers that added up to $13 million. After that report came out, dozens of advertisers publicly dropped their support for his show (opens in new tab). O'Reilly has consistently denied the allegations.
21st Century Fox released the following statement (opens in new tab) Wednesday:
In a note to Fox employees (opens in new tab), Rupert Murdoch and his sons, Lachlan and James, elaborated on the brief statement, praised O'Reilly's success, and ultimately stressed how important an appropriate workplace environment is.
NPR's David Folkenflik reported (opens in new tab) that Tucker Carlson will take O'Reilly's prime 8 p.m. time slot. In an interview with the New York Times (opens in new tab) on April 5, President Trump called O'Reilly a "good person," saying, "I don't think Bill did anything wrong."
According to the Los Angeles Times (opens in new tab), O'Reilly was by far the biggest star on Fox News, and Nielsen calculated 3.98 million people tuned in every night. Carlson was second in the ratings in the first quarter of 2017, with 3.27 million viewers. Losing The O'Reilly Factor could lower Fox News' ratings by as much as 25 percent, the newspaper estimated.
O'Reilly's exit comes less than a year after longtime Fox News chairman Roger Ailes resigned from the network, following a string of allegations of sexual harassment. Former host Gretchen Carlson accused Ailes of firing her for refusing to have sex with him, and other accusations followed, according to The Guardian (opens in new tab). Ailes insisted he fired Carlson because of low ratings, and denied the sexual harassment allegations.
We're nominated for a Webby Award—but we need your vote to win! Vote for the Women and Guns project here. (opens in new tab)
-
Small Business Spotlight: Rebel NellThe women-led business creates social change through handcrafted jewelry.
-
Beauty Inside & Out: Annie Murphy
The 'Schitt’s Creek' star on the BIC razor that saves her time shaving, joining Cody Rigsby's Peloton cult, and why she’s used the same mascara for decades.
-
It's Not Looking Good for Jackie and Marshall After 'Love Is Blind'
"My life is not for someone who can't be up to par in supporting me," Jackie said recently.
-
36 Ways Women Still Aren't Equal to Men
It's just one of the many ways women still aren't equal to men.
-
EMILY's List President Laphonza Butler Has Big Plans for the Organization
Under Butler's leadership, the largest resource for women in politics aims to expand Black political power and become more accessible for candidates across the nation.
-
Want to Fight for Abortion Rights in Texas? Raise Your Voice to State Legislators
Emily Cain, executive director of EMILY's List and and former Minority Leader in Maine, says that to stop the assault on reproductive rights, we need to start demanding more from our state legislatures.
-
Your Abortion Questions, Answered
Here, MC debunks common abortion myths you may be increasingly hearing since Texas' near-total abortion ban went into effect.
-
The Future of Afghan Women and Girls Depends on What We Do Next
Between the U.S. occupation and the Taliban, supporting resettlement for Afghan women and vulnerable individuals is long overdue.
-
How to Help Afghanistan Refugees and Those Who Need Aid
With the situation rapidly evolving, organizations are desperate for help.
-
It’s Time to Give Domestic Workers the Protections They Deserve
The National Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, reintroduced today, would establish a new set of standards for the people who work in our homes and take a vital step towards racial and gender equity.
-
The Biden Administration Announced It Will Remove the Hyde Amendment
The pledge was just one of many gender equity commitments made by the administration, including the creation of the first U.S. National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence.
