Geraldo Rivera’s Initial Response To The Matt Lauer Scandal Raises Eyebrows

It’s actually easier to name the people who haven’t been accused of sexual assault. The last big name to go? Matt Lauer. I DID NOT see that one coming. It totally took me by surprise, and it has me on high alert. Who’s next? It could be ANYONE. No one is safe at this point.

This is all we’re going to be talking about for the next few days. The conversation will probably go through the new year.

Anyway, Geraldo Rivera is a pretty big-time journalist. How does he feel about all of this? His initial take is raising eyebrows.

Sad about @MLauer great guy, highly skilled & empathetic w guests & a real gentleman to my family & me. News is a flirty business & it seems like current epidemic of #SexHarassmentAllegations may be criminalizing courtship & conflating it w predation. What about #GarrisonKeillor?

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) November 29, 2017

A jerk’s a jerk in dating. #SexHarassment should be confined to situations where superior imposes himself on subordinate who feels unable to complain because of power of perp or feared consequences to victim’s employment. Shouldn’t be used to get even w bad bosses or hated ex’s

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) November 29, 2017

Heard well-regarded women in media today suggesting morning shows go to an all-female format. That should be as unacceptably retro as the other way around.

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) November 29, 2017

#SexHarassment allegations should require: 1-made in a timely fashion-say w/n 5 yrs. 2-some contemporaneous corroboration, like witnesses, electronic or written communications. W $ settlements in multi-millions slight chance exists some victims are motivated by more than justice

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) November 29, 2017

This issue is so red hot right now there is no room for any thought or opinion but hang em high. If News wasn’t (formerly) a flirty biz then how do we explain so many newsroom courtships that have led to happy marriages?

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) November 29, 2017

He’s either 1.) An idiot or 2.) Thinking about super old school journalism. You know, where the guys wore trench coats and had pocket watches and cigars and were super slick and trying to solve mysteries? And they innocently flirted with the attractive single ladies they worked with? You know what I’m talking about. But today? It’s SO NOT like that. This isn’t “innocent flirting” we’re talking about. We’re talking about Matt Lauer dropping his pants in front of a female employee and expecting her to look adoringly at his junk. That’s not old-school romance. That’s disgusting horndog behavior. There’s a difference, Geraldo. WTH is wrong with you?

Wow. You are seriously not good at this.

— Hudd (@MassaHudd) November 29, 2017

No, @GeraldoRivera, it’s red hot because women now feel they can come forward with less fear of being bullied, ridiculed and mocked – although I’m sure you’ll have a pretty good go… https://t.co/QHIRuMPEjl

— Chris Payne (@xtofallabout) November 29, 2017

@GeraldoRivera pic.twitter.com/V6NhZBrTRj

— darin spitzer (@DarinSpitzer) November 29, 2017

Live Look-In on Geraldo Rivera: pic.twitter.com/DO7Av116JL

— Mead🤨ws! (@JD_Meadows) November 29, 2017

Not a fan but as a fellow human being, I would suggest you stop talking about this.

— RESIST 45* (@schwanderer) November 29, 2017

honey….no…. https://t.co/NCFGrjZnuU

— Carolyn Dickson (@theladydickson) November 29, 2017

He’s doubling down on this. By now, @GeraldoRivera must know that that Lauer 1. trapped women in his office with a hidden, push-button lock 2. gave a colleague a sex toy 3. scolded an employee for not having sex with him and 4. took it out. So, I guess that’s all “flirty?” https://t.co/hkFFrItx4M

— Dan Mitchell (@Fortunes_Wheel) November 29, 2017

That’s my point. Screaming at a woman for not wanting to engage in sex acts in your office is not “flirting.” Having intercourse with a woman in your locked office until she PASSES OUT is ALSO not “flirtatious behavior.”

Telling a woman she looks nice and asking her out for coffee = innocent flirting.

Giving people sex toys and dropping your pants in a locked office = not innocent flirting.

Update: Geraldo has apologized.

Reaction to my tweets today on #sexharassment makes clear
I didn’t sufficiently explain that this is a horrendous problem
long hidden-Harassers are deviants who deserve what is coming
to them-Often victims are too frightened to come
forward in a timely fashion-I humbly apologize

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) November 30, 2017

Double update: Fox News has responded to Geraldo’s initial tweets.

“Geraldo’s tweets do not reflect the views of FOX News or its management. We were troubled by his comments and are addressing them with him.”

h/t Twitchy