According to a New York Times investigation, TV personality Bill O’Reilly settled a sexual harassment suit for $32 million before Fox News offered him a $100 million contract extension.
O'Reilly has denied these claims, saying they are false and defamatory. He also said that no one ever complained about him. A spokesperson said "not one complaint was filed against him with the Human Resources Department or Legal Department by a coworker, even on the anonymous hotline".
However, Megyn Kelly, who worked with O’Reilly at Fox News, says that his claims are the ones that are false.
The former Fox anchor, who now works at NBC, said, “O’Reilly’s suggestion that no one ever complained about his behaviour is false. I know, because I complained.”
Kelly had emailed the presidents of Fox News -- Bill Shine and Jack Abernathy -- about his conduct.
"Perhaps he didn't realise that his exact attitude of shaming women into shutting the hell up about harassment on grounds that it will disgrace the company is in part how Fox News got into the decade-long Ailes mess to begin with," she said.
Fox News issued a statement in response, saying that the network is taking concerted action to transform itself.
O'Reilly said, "I don't know why is doing what she's doing. I've helped her dramatically in her career."
The latest case of sexual allegation come from Lis Wiehl, who is a former legal analyst at Fox News. She said that O’Reilly harassed her, forced her into a sexual relationship and sent her sexually explicit material.
This is the sixth agreement O’Reilly made to settle harassment allegations against him. Despite the allegations. Fox offered him a contract extension, saying that it was aware of Wiehl’s complaints, but considered the settlement a personal matter.
O'Reilly was forced to resign in April owing to charges of sexual harassment, when Fox finally fired him.
Also Read: Media and Sexism: It’s Not Just Megyn Kelly
Picture Credit: The Independent
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