Megyn Kelly: I Know Women Complained About Bill O'Reilly At Fox News Because I Complained About Him

Megyn Kelly, the former Fox News star, told her Megyn Kelly Today audience on NBC that while Fox News Corp. promised many that the work environment for female workers would improve after ousting network head Roger Ailes, and hosts Bill O'Reilly & Eric Bolling, no real change has happened.

In an emotional address, Kelly confirmed to her viewers, "O’Reilly’s suggestion that no one ever complained about his behavior is false. I know because I complained."

Kelly also shared that victims are often bullied into silence through “fear of public shaming, including through the media.” She named names and pointed fingers at Irena Briganti, Fox’s media relations chief, who she says “is known for her vindictiveness.”

“To this day [Briganti] pushes negative articles on certain Ailes accusers like the one you are looking at right now,” Kelly said.

Watch below.

Kelly’s monologue comes on the heels of a bombshell report in the New York Times which revealed that O’Reilly paid a $32 million settlement to one woman, Lis Wiehl, just before Fox News resigned him to a huge new contract. Fox News was aware of the basic terms of the settlement, if not the exact amount.

“O’Reilly’s suggestion that no one ever complained about his behavior is false. I know because I complained.” @megynkelly on Bill O’Reilly pic.twitter.com/BO8ifQcJbu

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) October 23, 2017

Speaking on Glenn Beck's radio show today, Bill O’Reilly proclaimed he’s being attacked for political purposes and that it’s been a “horror show” for him and his family.

This past weekend, The New York Times reported that O'Reilly agreed to a $32 million settlement to a former legal analyst who had accused O’Reilly of harassment.

As has been said elsewhere - no one pays $32 million over false allegations.

Fox News Renewed Host Bill O'Reilly's Contract One Month After His $32 Million Harassment Settlement

Bill O'Reilly

Just six months after Fox News head Roger Ailes was ejected from his lofty position at the conservative news network, prime-time host Bill O'Reilly agreed to pay a $32 million settlement to a network analyst over new sexual harassment allegations.

That's $32 million to one person.

According to The New York Times, Fox News was aware of the woman's complaints.

This was at least the sixth such agreement O'Reilly or the network had agreed to in order to quell such allegations against O'Reilly.

One month later the network renewed O'Reilly's contract to the tune of $100 million over four years.

The obvious question remains: why was O'Reilly allowed to remain in the workplace after so many expensive settlements?

Read the full account at The New York Times.

Nobody pays $32m for false allegations - nobody https://t.co/qB3njcHHuy

— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) October 21, 2017

Show of hands pls...Amy I the only one who can’t stop wondering what EXACTLY someone would have 2do2 warrant a $32MILLION DOLLAR SETTLEMENT?

— Stephanie Ruhle (@SRuhle) October 22, 2017

#OreillySettlement There’s 1 reason a man pens a $32 million check. He doesn’t want to do 32 yrs in the pen. @GretchenCarlson

— Charles Adler (@charlesadler) October 22, 2017

I hate to be crude, but a $32MM settlement suggest a lot worse than "garden variety" harassment. #OReilly #SexualAssault

— Eric Loechle (@ericloechle) October 21, 2017

Odd silence from RNC and Spicer and Don Jr and others on this O’Reilly story

— Sam Stein (@samstein) October 21, 2017

Twitter Burn Of The Day: Bill O'Reilly Vs Jake Tapper

Randy Rainbow Parody: "Just My Bill (O'Reilly)"

Randy Rainbow helps us close out the week with this lovely parody of the classic Show Boat tune, "Bill."

But in this version, the "Bill" being rhapsodized is now-former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly, who recently got fired for his many sexual harassment issues.

I've shared Randy Rainbow's work many times on The Randy Report. Make sure you check out more of his funny, funny material here and here and here and here.

#TBT To The Joys Of Working With That Bundle Of Charm, Bill O'Reilly

Just one more. Just one more video before we let the Bill O'Reilly thing go, ok?

Just a reminder of what a standup, charming guy The Bill Man was to work with. If you haven't seen this before, hit play. It's quite the performance.

Stephen Colbert Riffs On The Fall Of Bill O'Reilly

Stephen Colbert of The Late Show has some parting words for now-fired Bill O'Reilly.

Along the way, Colbert shares part of the statement issued from Fox News lauding Bill as they kicked him out the door.

The statement read, “By ratings standards, Bill O’Reilly is one of the most accomplished TV personalities in the history of cable news.”

Colbert amended the statement adding, “By rating stands, he is. By moral standards, he was a self-righteous landfill of angry garbage.”

Btw - it's being reported today that O'Reilly will walk away with a golden parachute of "tens of millions of dollars."

NY Magazine: Fox News To Drop Bill O'Reilly Over Sexual Harassment Allegations & Lawsuits

New York Magazine is reporting this morning that Fox News has decided to cut ties with beleaguered host Bill O'Reilly in light of the many allegations of sexual misconduct leveled at him.

The Murdochs have decided Bill O’Reilly’s 21-year run at Fox News will come to an end. According to sources briefed on the discussions, network executives are preparing to announce O’Reilly’s departure before he returns from an Italian vacation on April 24. Now the big questions are how the exit will look and who will replace him.

Wednesday morning, according to sources, executives are holding emergency meetings to discuss how they can sever the relationship with the country’s highest-rated cable-news host without causing collateral damage to the network. The board of Fox News’ parent company 21st Century Fox is scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss the matter.

Inside sources say Rupert Murdoch was leaning to keeping O'Reilly as recently as last week, but his two sons have apparently lobbied hard to drop the conservative TV host as news spread that O'Reilly had paid out more than $13 million to end sexual harassment lawsuits.

According to the above article, the powers that be may not give the 21-year Fox News veteran a sign-off show.

News Round-Up: April 18, 2017

Some news items you may have missed:

• Fitness model/trainer Lony Pizzaro makes a great distraction from Tax Day 2017.

• According to Tourism Economics, the U.S. economy could lose more than $18 billion and about 107,000 jobs this year and next year due to President Trump's travel ban policy.

• New York Magazine says Rupert Murdoch is now leaning towards firing Bill O'Reilly from his luxe Fox News job.

• A new poll shows 61% of adults living in Texas oppose President Trump's plan to build a wall along the W.S./Mexico border. And yet, they voted for him.

• And speaking of Texas, did you hear the one about the idiot who stole a rainbow flag from flying at a church so he could leave an American flag in it's place? With the flag was a note reading, “I didn’t agree with your flag so I took it down. If you don’t agree with this one, you can take it down. P.S. there are only 2 (two) genders.” No worries, though - the church figured it would happen some day, and had a backup Pride flag waiting in the wings.

• Even the cops get in on the act at New Orleans' Easter Parade:

In a completely lighthearted, humorous move an NOPD officer reaches back to gently slap the rear of Qween B. Amor who persisted on backing up and dancing closer and closer to these motorcycle officers who were leading an Easter parade through the French Quarter on Sunday. The crowds lining Royal St. immediately erupted in laughter and applauded the unexpected move by the officer. A fun time was had by all! Photo by Chris Granger @cgranger #onlyinneworleans

A post shared by NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune (@nolanews) on Apr 16, 2017 at 5:29pm PDT

Trump Defends Bill O'Reilly: "I Don't Think Bill Did Anything Wrong"

President Trump, who knows a bit about being accused of sexual harassment, defended Fox News' Bill O'Reilly in an interview with The New York Times today.

O'Reilly has come under fire as news emerged that he has settled at least 5 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment to the tune of $13 million.

“I think he’s a person I know well — he is a good person,” said Mr. Trump, who during the interview was surrounded at his desk by a half-dozen of his highest-ranking aides, including the economic adviser Gary Cohn and Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, along with Vice President Mike Pence.

“I think he shouldn’t have settled; personally I think he shouldn’t have settled,” said Mr. Trump. “Because you should have taken it all the way. I don’t think Bill did anything wrong.”

At last count, over 20 companies have dropped their advertising on The O'Reilly Factor in light of the allegations.

Not surprising that Trump thinks alleged sexual harassment doesn't constitute doing "anything wrong."

As just about everyone in the free world knows, Trump himself has been the subject of multiple claims of sexual harassment. He denied them all.

More Advertisers Drop Bill O'Reilly In Light Of $13 Million Settlements In Alleged Sexual Harassment

More and more advertisers are fleeing Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor in the aftermath of the news that Bill O'Reilly had settled sexual harassment charges from 5 women to the tune of $13 million.

From The New York Times:

At least seven more marketers said they were withdrawing ads from “The O’Reilly Factor,’’ making a total of at least nine that have suspended sponsorship in the last 24 hours. Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai announced their decisions Monday night, and on Tuesday they were joined by BMW of North America; GlaxoSmithKline; T. Rowe Price; Allstate; Constant Contact, an online marketer; Untuckit, a men’s clothing distributor; and Sanofi Consumer HealthCare, which advertised products like ACT mouthwash on Mr. O’Reilly’s show.

The decisions come after The New York Times published an investigation last weekend that found that five women who had accused Mr. O’Reilly of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior received settlements totaling about $13 million.

Bill O'Reilly: Slaves That Built The White House "Were Well-Fed And Had Decent Lodging"

After First Lady Michelle Obama mentioned that the White House was built by slaves during her Democratic National Convention speech Monday night to powerful effect, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly decided he needed to make note that the slaves' living conditions were quite favorable, in his opinion.

“Slaves that worked there were well-fed and had decent lodgings provided by the government, which stopped hiring slave labor in 1802,” O’Reilly told his TV audience. “However, the feds did not forbid subcontractors from using slave labor."

Twitter wasn't so amused by the observation:

For his next hot historical take, Bill O'Reilly will tell us about the free dental care at Auschwitz https://t.co/WTdwQ1oGAL

— Leon Wolf (@LeonHWolf) July 27, 2016

Watch O'Reilly make his point below.

Ted Koppel Schools Bill O'Reilly On True Journalism

Fox News personality Bill O'Reilly asked his guest, veteran journalist Ted Koppel, how HE would interview GOP White House hopeful Donald Trump.

Koppel did not hold back, explaining that he felt Fox News and their ilk have made the news interview "irrelevant" through their pundity when it comes to the Trumpster.

Via Media Matters:

“You and I have talked about this general subject many times over the years. It’s irrelevant how I would do it. You know who made it irrelevant? You did. You have changed the television landscape over the past 20 years — you took it from being objective and dull to subjective and entertaining. And in this current climate, it doesn’t matter what the interviewer asks him; Mr. Trump is gonna say whatever he wants to say, as outrageous as it may be.”

As he so often does, O’Reilly didn’t actually admit that his guest had hit the nail on the head, so he tried reiterating the same query. Once again, Koppel did not let O’Reilly or Fox News of the hook for their culpability in the rise of Trump:

“The first way you do it is not in the interview — you do it by some reporting. It’s an old-fashioned concept but I think demonstrating who and what Mr. Trump is and what his policies really amount to is something you don’t do in an interview. He doesn’t answer the questions.”

Reporting from Fox News! Ha! Now that truly would be revolutionary.

Finally, Koppel left O’Reilly with this stinging criticism of the candidate they helped spawn:

“When was the last time you have heard Donald Trump spell out a real policy on anything other than, ‘We’re gonna be the best, we’re gonna be the greatest, I’m gonna negotiate the best deals you’ve ever seen.’ There is no substance in any of that, and nobody among his followers seems to care about that.”

#TBT - Bill O'Reilly's Epic Meltdown On Inside Edition

I hadn't seen this is a while. It's pretty amazing folks could actually act out like this in the workplace.

Donald Trump Goes Off On Fox News - AGAIN

White House wanna-be Donald Trump took to Twitter to complain about what he felt was unfair treatment on that liberal bastion of political news, The O'Reilly Factor.

Bill O'Reilly, appearing on The Today Show this morning told Matt Lauer, “I’ve known Trump a long time. He wants people to like him. When people criticize him, he takes it personally.”

“That’s like the worst thing you can give Donald Trump is this tweeting thing,” he said. “I just think this is an extension of his reality show, The Apprentice. This is just theater right now.”

.@oreillyfactor, why don't you have some knowledgeable talking heads on your show for a change instead of the same old Trump haters. Boring!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 22, 2015

I am having a really hard time watching @FoxNews.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 22, 2015

.@RichLowry is truly one of the dumbest of the talking heads - he doesn't have a clue!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 22, 2015

BREAKING: Hell Has Frozen Over As FOX News Correspondent Admits "Not Everything" is Obama's Fault

You can imagine the heads snapping up to the monitors over at Fox News when Chief White House Correspondent, Ed Henry, chose to point out that EVERYTHING isn't President Obama's fault.

In this case, Henry was reporting on the current ISIS violence.

Bill O'Reilly wasn't having it. Finally after a minute or two back and forth, O'Reilly gives in begrudgingly to say "not the whole thing" is the President's fault.

Transcript:

O’Reilly: Turkey doesn’t fear the United States. Egypt doesn’t fear the United States. Pakistan certainly doesn’t fear us. Who fears us? Kuwait? Anyone?

Henry: We can add Putin to the list. I don’t think Putin fears us right now either. Where I would say you’re not giving the President credit though, is that there’s been about 200 air strikes in Iraq. Prevented a genocide in Northern Iraq, right? There were 10s of 1000s of…

O’Reilly: But he had to do that.

Henry: Okay, well he did it. Whether he had to do it or not, you just acknowledge he acted.

O’Reilly: Let me decimate your argument there.

Henry: Alright.

O’Reilly: If he had listened to me six months ago, ISIS never would have expanded into Iraq. We were calling for him to knock ISIS out six months ago when they weren’t nearly as strong. So you can say that the mountain and the humanitarian disaster is partly Mr. Obama’s fault because he didn’t listen to the CIA and he didn’t listen to guys like Panetta, who are now killing him. You know Panetta’s now killing him, right?

Henry: Sure and he said we should have left some troops behind in Iraq.

O’Reilly: Well, you can say well yeah, he prevented it, but it’s his fault he was even there to begin with. You can make that argument.

Henry: I’m not sure you can pin the whole thing on him.

O’Reilly: Not the whole thing.

Henry: Okay, right but if you listen to your talking points a moment ago, it’s basically like, “this is wrong, this is wrong, this is wrong, why isn’t Obama done more. I don’t think we can make that case. Not everything is his fault.

What happens at the Fox News HQ when this happens? Are there lashings scheduled? Does Ed Henry see his bathroom privileges revoked?

Watch below:

(source)

Bill O'Reilly: Save $25,000 from your loose change

Radio host David Pakman mulls over the money-saving tips of multi-millionaire Bill O'Reilly, who suggests we all could have a $25K nest egg if we just save loose change and don't buy "trinkets."

Stephen Colbert explains Bill O'Reilly's "airtight" defense of inequality

Stephen Colbert explains to his audience on The Colbert Report how Bill O'Reilly is correct in asserting that equality is forever out of reach - and in more ways than we know.

Done in true "Colbert Report" style.

The Colbert Report
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Bill O'Reilly: There has to be a downside to a woman President

Is this really a subject worth debating, Bill?

And what did you think your two female guests were going to say?

Or was this just a passive/aggressive opportunity to throw the women a bone and have a chance to say what they want so you can LOOK like you might care...?

(via TPM)

Mark Ruffalo shuts down O'Reilly Factor reporter on Benghazi

Actor Mark Ruffalo is not having any of the "Benghazi scandal" BS from "O'Reilly Factor" interviewer Jesse Watters at the premiere of "Infinitely Polar Bear" at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.

Watters keeps trying to push his point of a "scandal" even though an investigation found the Obama Administration was NOT responsible for any mishandling.

Spin, spin, spin, kids.

Bill O'Reilly supports President Obama's plan for military force in Syria

As I said, earlier this week, Bill O'Reilly CAN surprise us.

(via Talking Points Memo)