NEW YORK — The proclivities of a major figure at Fox News are making headlines again — and this time it’s top-rated host Bill O’Reilly who’s under the spotlight.
According to the New York Times, O’Reilly, 67, and Fox News have paid out a total of $13 million to five women since 2002 to make a string of allegations about harassment and other bad stuff go away.
Two of the five settlements were old news, but fresh details have emerged in relation to those cases.
One of O’Reilly’s accusers claims he made unwanted advances and sometimes sounded like he was stroking his fox when he called her on the phone.
The central theme of the allegations is that O’Reilly used his position to try and get the women into bed.
But when they refused, O’Reilly used his powerful position to hurt their careers.
All of O’Reilly’s accusers either worked for him or were guests on his show. Most are bound by confidentiality agreements as part of their settlements.
O’Reilly said he was vulnerable to lawsuits because of his fame and decided to settle with the women to avoid hurting his children.
O’Reilly earns about $18 million a year and his show brings in big advertising bucks for the network.
Former Fox News chief executive Roger Ailes resigned last year amid a long list of sexual harassment allegations.
More lurid claims against Ailes were made this week by Democrat strategist Julie Roginsky, who says Fox’s current management are trying to cover up for him.
