Gretchen Carlson Weighs In On The O’Reilly Related ‘Bombshell’ At Fox News

On Saturday, we all found out that Bill O’Reilly settled a $32 million sexual harassment claim one month prior to renewing his contract with Fox News. In other words, Fox News knew about the settlement to some extent but chose to renew O’Reilly’s contract anyway.

Although the deal has not been previously made public, the network’s parent company, 21st Century Fox, acknowledges that it was aware of the woman’s complaints about Mr. O’Reilly. They included allegations of repeated harassment, a nonconsensual sexual relationship and the sending of gay pornography and other sexually explicit material to her, according to the people briefed on the matter.

Whoa…the sending of gay pornography too? I never heard that one before.

 

It was at least the sixth agreement — and by far the largest — made by either Mr. O’Reilly or the company to settle harassment allegations against him. Despite that record, 21st Century Fox began contract negotiations with Mr. O’Reilly, and in February granted him a four-year extension that paid $25 million a year.

 

Interviews with people familiar with the settlement, and documents obtained by The New York Times, show how the company tried and ultimately failed to contain the second wave of a sexual harassment crisis that initially burst into public view the previous summer and cost the Fox News chairman, Roger Ailes, and eventually Mr. O’Reilly, their jobs.

21st Century Fox released this statement on the matter:

Here is 21st Century Fox’s statement about today’s revelation about Bill O’Reilly’s $32 million settlement: pic.twitter.com/Tf5VG5DfH7

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) October 21, 2017

This entire story really frustrates me. Here Fox News is, condemning Hollywood’s gross hush-hush culture, but it feels like the network had its own version of that going on. I’m not saying everyone at Fox knew, but some certainly did.

Not cool. Not cool at all.

The debate’s still raging on over O’Reilly’s innocence. I’ve never been a fan, and I tend to believe that something happened. I mean, a $32 million settlement? That’s a lot of money…

Cue Gretchen Carlson. If you recall, she’s basically the first woman to kick off the series of public sexual harassment claims against Roger Ailes and the network. She ultimately walked away with $20 million and a “unprecedented” public apology.

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

— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) October 21, 2017

It is a lot of money…

Excruciating choice

— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) October 22, 2017

You and I don’t see eye to eye on so many things – but I do want to tell you how proud I am of you for coming through as a strong woman.

— EnoughIsEnough (@kansasfemale) October 22, 2017

Ok go back into the sand

— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) October 22, 2017

Oh pls

— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) October 21, 2017

Thank u #Befiercebook

— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) October 22, 2017

Thank u! #befiercebook

— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) October 21, 2017

OK we get it. Lots of book plugging here.

Thank u #Befiercebook

— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) October 22, 2017

Yes Thank u #Befiercebook

— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) October 22, 2017

Lots and lots of it.

Thank u #BeFierceBook

— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) October 21, 2017

Thank u #Befiercebook

— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) October 22, 2017

Thank u #BeFierceBook

— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) October 22, 2017

Lol

— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) October 22, 2017

No

— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) October 22, 2017

Huh?

— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) October 22, 2017

Oh they r true

— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) October 22, 2017

Thoughts?