Bolling slams O’Reilly comment

Ousted Fox News personality Eric Bolling on Monday pushed back against fellow Fox alum Bill O’Reilly, who suggested the death of Bolling’s son last month was related to allegations made against Bolling this year.

“I believe it is beyond inappropriate for anyone to bring in the tragic death of my son Eric Chase Bolling,” Bolling said in a statement. “My parting from Fox News was in no way connected to the tragic news of my son’s passing.

“The coroner has in fact indicated to us that they believe it was an accident,” he added.

The statement came as a rebuke of comments by O’Reilly, who was ousted by Fox amid sexual harassment allegations. “I urge you to think about what you put in your newspaper,” O’Reilly told The New York Times. “Eric Bolling’s son is dead. He’s dead because of allegations made — in my opinion and I know this to be true — against Mr. Bolling.”

O’Reilly later apologized to Bolling via Twitter, calling him a “stand-up guy who deserves the respect I have for him.”

Eric Chase Bolling, 19, died in September in a Boulder apartment. The coroner’s office has not commented on the cause of death, pending the results of toxicology tests. Some outlets have attributed the death to an accidental drug overdose.

Bolling was suspended in August over allegations he sent lewd photos to female co-workers. Fox News said last month it parted ways with Bolling.