Yesterday, Fox News Channel lost their biggest star, Bill O’Reilly, and cancelled one of the top-rated TV shows on cable, The O’Reilly Factor. Back in March 2015, it was reported that the series had spent 60 consecutive quarters as number one in the 25-54 demographic.
O’Reilly’s firing came less than three weeks after The New York Times reported that O’Reilly and Fox had over the course of the past 15 years, paid out nearly $13 million to settle five cases of sexual and other harassment against the host. Following the news, as many as 90 advertisers pulled their commercials from The O’Reilly Factor. It’s unclear if they pulled their spots from the cable channel entirely or just shifted them to other Fox News programs.
O’Reilly announced he was going on a two-week vacation and would return on April 24th. After investigating the allegations, Fox News’ parent company, 21st Century Fox, announced yesterday that O’Reilly would not be returning to the cable channel.
Here’s O’Reilly’s statement regarding his dismissal:
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. 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 with 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.
Deadline obtained a copy of Fox CEO Rupert Murdoch’s memo to Fox News staffers:
Dear Colleagues:
I would like to address questions about Bill O’Reilly’s future at Fox News. After a thorough and careful review of allegations against him, the Company and Bill O’Reilly have agreed that Mr. O’Reilly will not return to the Fox News Channel.
This decision follows an extensive review done in collaboration with outside counsel.
By ratings standards, Bill O’Reilly is one of the most accomplished TV personalities in the history of cable news. In fact, his success by any measure is indisputable. Fox News has demonstrated again and again the strength of its talent bench. We have full confidence that the network will continue to be a powerhouse in cable news. Please see attached for our new programming line-up.
Most importantly, we want to underscore our consistent commitment to fostering a work environment built on the values of trust and respect.
I understand how difficult this has been for many of you. Thank you for your hard work, patience, and for the great job you all do delivering news and opinion to millions of Americans whose trust you earn every day. I look forward to even more success in the coming years.
Best,
Rupert Murdoch
What do you think? Do you think that O’Reilly should have been fired from Fox News? Do you think this move will help or hurt the channel? If you are a viewer, will you still watch Fox News?
[interaction id=”58f8dcfb240e61ee26bf3569″]
He wouldn’t have been if he were a democrat… Right Bill Clinton?
No,
I am a woman and over the years I’ve actually witnessed women in the work place freaking out and taking offense over men just giving them compliments…….oooooh, sexual harassment….they demonize and emasculate men any chance they get, justified or not. I am so sick of the majority of the women and the bandwagon they’ve all jumped on….and any woman who doesn’t agree with them and their pc culture is considered an enemy to our gender. God help us all because they’re also responsible for the useless ‘snowflakes’ and the burgeoning anarchists starting to take over our country.
He took “no” for an answer. Unless he tried to wreck her career afterward
there is no harassment. This Is more about silencing a credible, popular
Conservative voice. Check politics of accuser.
Shades of One accuser can maybe be dismissed, but when several come forward, its time to look closer. Glad we’ve reached a point where its not just assumed the big man is in the right. .
If one listens to NBC, CNN, PBS, etc., you’ve heard accusations against O’Reilly about racism, sexism, and harassment. And this has been going on for years. If you watch Fox, you do not see anything that would lead you to believe it’s true. The motivation is obvious. If there is guilt of harrassment by O’Reilly, objective evidence has not been presented. I would never convict what seems like a good man base on your hopes and dreams.
13 million dollar payouts and a tape of his voice doing said things is not enough for you? WOW! I guess it was no one in your family who was the victim
Apparently it wasn’t enough to fire Bill Clinton…
Never for Bill – But didn’t the Dems eventually withdraw their support for Anthony Weiner after only about his 800th lewd picture? It took years and I think it might have been a baby picture that finally did him in. Perhaps like that the Dems can overlook slaughter and genocide but if someone hurt an animal somewhere, the base will perk up and destroy things.
Obviously it was. He was impeached, or did you forget about that
As should Obama should have been and most of the old embedded Democrats AND Republicans should be replaced. it’s time political dinosaurs go extinct.
You probably think Hillary is innocent also huh?
Do me a favor and provide links to what you believe is reliable info. I tried searching and there are too many hits to leftist sites publishing garbage to make it not worth spending my time. I agree that paying off millions (if that’s true) to make a claim go away always looks bad but there are possible legit innocent reasons for doing it (rather than fighting the claim in court and in public). I am open to new information, but I’m not dumb about it and I know there are multitudes of dumb people that have been working full… Read more »
Ho9w many women are Democrats? Just because a lot of women are the4 accusers does not make then credible, just look at the insane comments coming from the DNC
Men in power have taken advantage of women in subordinate positions for decades and it continues to happen. Mr. O’Reilly and Fox settled cases in the millions to keep him on the air, those cases never went to court because he paid them. The latest cases wanted no money and were willing to go to court or get a public apology, the accusers wanted no money. I hear he will have a podcast so you can still listen to him.
I don’t think Bill O’Reill sshould have been fired. Fox News is the only news I watch. Bring him back!
Debbie you really NEED to expand your knowledge base and watch other news sometimes.
Chip I have tried to watch all other so-called news stations but I can’t get through 5 minutes listening to supposition and downright lies. It’s getting hard even to watch FOX because there are so many make believe “Fair and balance people ” on there. They got rid of Queen kelly, Thank goodness but there are still a few left worth anything. Hannity Tucker(Maybe), Judge Jeanine, It won’t be long before you are only doing to have rumor mongers and liars to watch, it’s coming I guarantee you. If all you’re interested in is “what if and wouldn’t it be… Read more »
Everyone is allowed to have their own opinion and I for one will take CNN and MSNBC over Fox any day. They are the people who really speak the truth and Fox is the doing all the lying.
What world do you live in? if everyone is allowed their own opinion then why are their so many protests directed at stopping free speech at colleges and everywhere else? “people who really speak the truth”, depends on what this new truth in the world is I guess. I’ve tried to watch CNN and I can’t get through 5 minutes without changing the channel. I’m I guess YOU could “politically neutral” I think they’re all crooks and lyres (and that includes all news, FOX included except for hannity, Watters, Tucker Carlson and Judge Jeanine, and they make errors from time… Read more »
Seriously? You really think that CNN and MSNBC provide unbiased news . Believe what you will, but I suggest using the brain you were born with to be informed.
“Would’nt it be nice” if that were true?
I meant weren’t not were!!!!
I just watched an Inside Edition I think I recorded yesterday. Previously, I hadn’t heard (or researched) about the actual complaints on O’Reilly except from a commentator who was offended by being called blond (or Blondie?) Now I see a few more, and what do these complainers all have in common? What O’Reilly was accused of saying was terribly minor. More importantly, all these women are butt ugly (except one) and hate O’Reilly – Rachael Maddow confreres. The “one,” did cite a real offense: he supposedly invited her to a hotel. That woman was repeatedly on his show; I am… Read more »
Bill should have never been fired. He tells it like it is. People would rather hear lies and dirt on people than the truth. Those women talking crap on him should be made to show solid proof of their allegations. I wouldn’t give those women the time of day. I will back up Bill at any time. To me he is honest, trustworthy,and lets the public know how crooked and evil this world truly is. Ship those women to Siberia! He will always have my support.
He should have been fired a long time ago and so should many of the others on Fox News.
No reason?
You mean because Rachel Madcow, Bill O’Dorkell, UpChuck Todd, Crackxine Waters, Anderson Whopper Don Lemonhead and all the liberal garbage commentators never tell anything but the truth? I’m a lifelong Registered Democrat. Want to know why I will never vote Democratic ever again? See the liars above. NEVER AGAIN!
YOU ARE WORTHY! As Americans we should seek THE TRUTH, not just what we want to hear.
AS SHOULD EVERY SO-CALLED NEWS REPORTER ON “ALL” SO-CALLED NEWS STATIONS! SNOWFLAKE COLLEGE KIDS LIVING WITH THEIR ENABLING PARENTS THAT BELIEVE EVERYTHING THAT SOME IDIOT SAYS WITH NO PROOF TO BACK IT UP SHOULD GO BACK TO THEIR BASEMENTS ALSO. THEY WANT TO BAN GUNS AND BAN FREE SPEECH(FOR EVERYONE BUT THEMSELVES THAT IS). IT USED TO BE THAT AN AMERICAN WAS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. ALL GOING DOWN THE DRAIN QUICK.
Why? Give us facts to support your firing statement.
I’m DONE with Fox News. I don’t believe these accusations at all, especially from the ugly “temp worker” whose obviously desperate for cash. Will get my news from Rush Limbaugh from now on.
You’re lucky if you have a choice. My only choices are DirectTV, DISH or nothing because of my local. All news stations even my local channels are biased. I watched CNN for years up until 10 years ago and then I started watching FOX. Now I guess FOX doesn’t want to be watched either.
Yeah, there ya go – bypass the Fox Garbage Dumpster and head STRAIGHT to the bottom of the sewer to Rush LimbergerLand.
Mr. O’Reilly should NOT have been fired. Fox News will go down hill from this. I don’t believe he sexually harassed anyone. A man cannot even compliment a woman on her looks, etc. without it being considered harassment by the women of today. His show was one of a few that told the truth and showed both sides of the story. I also don’t believe that Roger Ailes sexually harassed anyone. It is very ovious that you men at the top want to change the only conservative news to a more liberal view. I really don’t think I will watch… Read more »
This was just part of Murdoch’s idiot liberal sons’ ongoing efforts to turn FNC into a liberal network over the next decade or so. Time for The Blaze and/or One America News to rise up and replace it.
O’Reilly, Tucker, and Hannity were the only ones I ever watched. That was eight years ago it was stated… why would she now come out on charges?! Smells like someone isn’t telling the truth after eight years… if it ever was said. Someone high up at Fox must want to go like CNN. Many of my friends are boycotting fox news I think I will also. When they eat their own of over 20 years to make the left happy. Time to say goodbye!
You forgot Judge Jeanine. Fox is getting rid of them one at a time. Fox is really just like the other biased news stations.
Only show left that we watch is The Five. If fox does anything to Watters over this latest nonsense it will be the end of that network. Our household will never turn to that channel again.
Why is this even a question!??