Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE/ARTS
Tuesday 24 OcTOber 2017
Megyn Kelly on O’Reilly: Abuse,

shaming of women has to stop

By DAVID BAUDER about their treatment at “You’ve become a dear
AP Television Writer Fox were disloyal. Kelly had friend (no matter what you
NEW YORK (AP) — Megyn written in her book about say) and I’m grateful to
Kelly took on her former Fox alleged harassment by have you in my life,” she
News Channel colleague Fox’s one-time leader Rog- wrote in the note.
Bill O’Reilly in blunt terms er Ailes. O’Reilly also posted a note
on Monday, revealing she “Perhaps he didn’t real- from Gretchen Carlson,
had gone to her bosses to ize the kind of message his whose lawsuit against Ailes
complain about O’Reilly’s criticism sends to young led to his downfall. She’s
behavior and saying the women across the country been critical of O’Reilly,
This Oct. 1, 2015 file photo shows Bill O’Reilly of the Fox News size of a newly revealed about how men continue and of Fox allowing Hanni-
Channel program “The O’Reilly Factor” in New York.
Associated Press $32 million settlement of to view the issue of speak- ty to bring him back on the
harassment charges made ing out about sexual ha- air for an interview recent-
by a Fox analyst was “jaw- rassment,” Kelly said she ly. In the undated note to
dropping.” wrote to her bosses. O’Reilly, she wrote, “thank
O’Reilly responded, in part, O’Reilly’s attitude of “sham- you for being my friend.”
by posting a copy of a ing women into shutting Carlson’s response on Twit-
thank you note Kelly had the hell up about harass- ter to the note: “So what.
sent to him for a gift given ment on the grounds that it Still paid $32M.”
at a baby shower. will disgrace the company” “If you still want to think I’m
The New York Times re- is precisely how Fox got into a bad guy, go ahead,”
ported that O’Reilly had the mess it was in, she said. O’Reilly told Beck. He said
agreed to the $32 million Later Monday, she posted the Times’ story about the
deal to set aside allegations a copy of the email she Wiehl case was designed
that include a nonconsen- sent to her bosses. “You’ve to get keep him out of the
sual sexual relationship with got a hell of a guy host- marketplace.
former Fox analyst Lis Wiehl, ing that 8 p.m. hour,” she “This is an attack on an
bringing to six the number wrote. American citizen, me, for
of harassment settlements Kelly said she was told political purposes,” he said.
involving him. The deal O’Reilly would be spoken “It has done enormous
was reached a month be- to and, hours later, he said damage to me and my
fore O’Reilly signed a con- on the air that people who family. It is a horror show
tract extension and three don’t like what is happen- and should never happen
months before O’Reilly was ing in the workplace should in this country.”
fired because of publicity leave or go to human re- On her show, Kelly said
about the cases against sources. She said it’s clearly she’s still being victimized
him. O’Reilly has said he’s not just Fox that handles the by Fox. She said Fox’s pow-
done nothing wrong. issue of harassment badly. erful public relations chief
More than just an embar- “This must stop,” she said. Irena Briganti is “known for
rassment that Fox had “The abuse of women, her vindictiveness” and “to
hoped was in its rear-view the shaming of them, the this day, she pushes nega-
mirror, the story could have threats, the retaliation, the tive articles on certain Ailes
costly consequences. Fox’s silence of them after the accusers, like the one you
parent company, 21st fact — it has to stop.” are looking at right now.”
Century Fox, is awaiting a O’Reilly and Kelly’s shows Briganti was not at work
decision by British regula- once ran back-to-back Monday. 21st Century Fox
tors regarding its purchase on Fox’s prime lineup. Now issued a statement say-
of the Sky satellite television those time slots are filled by ing Briganti was “a valued
company, and the issue of Tucker Carlson and Sean colleague and she has our
Fox News’ management is Hannity. O’Reilly, speaking full support.”Kelly also inter-
being considered. Monday on the radio pro- viewed former Fox anchor
Kelly, on her NBC show gram hosted by another ex- Juliet Huddy on her show.
Monday, refuted O’Reilly’s Fox colleague, Glenn Beck, Huddy, who appeared with
claims that no one had said he found Kelly’s com- her lawyer Doug Wigdor,
complained about him, ment incomprehensible.“I also settled harassment
saying Fox “was not exactly don’t know why Megyn claims against O’Reilly,
a friendly environment” for Kelly is doing what she’s and said she wrestled with
women who had stories to doing,” he said. “I helped the idea of signing non-
tell about abuse. her dramatically in her ca- disclosure agreements.
She said she went to Fox reer.” The one she signed pre-
leaders Bill Shine, who has His website posted notes vented Huddy from giving
since resigned, and Jack penned to O’Reilly by Kelly any details about her case
Abernethy, who is now in 2009 and 2012. In one, against O’Reilly. She said
president of Fox News Net- she thanks O’Reilly for pub- she struggled with the con-
work, after her memoir licizing a book written by cept, knowing that it would
was published last Novem- her husband. In the other, help other women who feel
ber with her anger about she thanks him for the “dar- abused if they knew there
O’Reilly’s suggestion that ling body suit and snuggly” were others out there like
people who complained given at a baby shower. them.q