Fox guarded O’Reilly says Megyn Kelly
New York: One of America’s top TV personalities accused Fox News on Monday of protecting disgraced former presenter Bill O’Reilly in the face of sexual harassment allegations.
Speaking on her morning show on NBC television, ex-Fox anchor Megyn Kelly said she sent an email to several Fox News executives in November 2016, expressing her outrage at O’Reilly’s alleged behaviour.
Her comments came after The New York Times reported Saturday that O’Reilly, who has since been fired, settled a sexual harassment claim by Fox legal analyst Lis Wiehl for $32 million in January.
He was later was offered a new contract — but forced out again in mid-April after the Times revealed details of five other settlements.
“That is not a nuisance value settlement, that is a jaw-dropping figure,” Kelly said. “OJ Simpson was ordered to pay the Goldman and Brown families $33.5 million for the murders of Ron and Nicole,” she said. “What on Earth would justify that amount? What awfulness went on?”
Kelly — who joined NBC earlier this year — said she had mentioned settlements between the presenter and several women in an email to senior Fox News executives, claiming management was aware of them.
She also alleged that Bill Shine, Fox News copresident at the time, called her to say he would “take care of Bill O’Reilly.”