The Harassment Factor Ousts Bill O'Reilly from Fox News
BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- Allegations of sexual harassment put an end to the O'Reilly Factor.
Protestors rallied to get Bill O'Reilly fired and advertisers jumped ship after a New York Times reported that Fox News paid $13 million in settlements to women accusing O'Reilly of harassment.
In a statement, Fox News says after a thorough and careful review, O'Reilly will not be returning to the Fox News Network.
O'Reilly and Fox News paid millions to settle allegations of sexual harassment.
Wednesday night O'Reilly's name was factored out of his show.
O'Reilly is the other shoe to drop after Fox News founder Roger Ailes resigned over similar accusations.
"Seeing these very high powerful men who thought they were untouchable in like this direct chain of command almost, I think that's going to have an effect on people," said Michelle Siri of the Women's Law Center of Maryland.
In a statement, O'Reilly defends himself, saying in part:
It is tremendously disheartening that we part ways due to completely unfounded claims, it is the unfortunate reality many of us in the public eye must live with.
"I don't know if that's going to stop a man from harassing someone. If he's going to say 'oh wait, I'm going to remember Bill O'Reilly,' but I think it will have the opposite effect, a woman's going to say 'you know what, I've been harassed I can come forward. If somebody else came forward against those people I can do it too,'" Siri said.
And in that may be the victory.
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