DING DONG, THE WITCH IS DEAD!!! Bill OReilly is out at #FOX!!!
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) April 19, 2017
Veteran Fox News anchor Bill O’Reilly has been ousted from the cable network and we’re living for the reactions on Twitter.
In a statement delivered Wednesday, 21st Century Fox said: “After a thorough and careful review of the allegations, the Company and Bill O’Reilly have agreed that Bill O’Reilly will not be returning to the Fox News Channel.”
The allegations in question refer to the New York Times report “Bill O’Reilly Thrives at Fox News, Even as Harassment Settlements Add Up,” which ran on April 1 and delved into sexual harassment claims and charges of other inappropriate behaviour levied against the news anchor by five women who had received payouts totalling around $13 million in exchange for their silence from O’Reilly and the network over the years. O’Reilly continues to deny any wrongdoing.
O’Reilly’s ousting follows the dismissal of Fox News Channel’s chairman Roger Ailes last summer in the wake of his own sexual harassment scandal.
Facing dozens of advertisers who have since pulled spots from O’Reilly’s show and the possibility of more women coming forward, Fox News CEO Rupert Murdoch made the decision to axe the network’s top-rated anchor and host of The O’Reilly Factor (which has since been re-branded simply as The Factor).
But, of course, Twitter wasn’t going to let him go gently into the night. Here are some of his best send-offs.
Looks like the only job Bill O’Reilly will be able to get now is PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) April 20, 2017
3 FAMOUS OLD MEN…ROGER AILELS,
BILL O’REILLY,& DONALD TRUMP HAVE SEXUALLY HARASSED WOMEN 4 YRS,TWO GOT FIRED,& ONE WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT— Cher (@cher) April 19, 2017
Say what you will, but Bill O’Reilly always had your back. And if you were a woman, he might try for your front, too. #RipPapaBear #LSSC
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) April 20, 2017
Fox firing Bill O’Reilly is huge and hopefully sends an effective signal to all guys, however powerful, who harass & maul women
— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) April 19, 2017
Bye, Bill O’Reilly. Don’t let the door grab your pussy on the way out.
— Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) April 19, 2017
Well Bill, I guess we wont be doing it live. @oreillyfactor pic.twitter.com/NZkCHjFCQv
— Margaret Cho (@margaretcho) April 19, 2017
It’s confirmed: O’Reilly is fired. There is no force greater than the collective power of our voice. #DropOReilly pic.twitter.com/uz5t4bxx2M
— Women’s March (@womensmarch) April 19, 2017
Remember that Fox News tolerated sexual harassment as long as you didn’t know about it.
— Elizabeth Plank (@feministabulous) April 19, 2017
Bill O’Reilly. Bill Cosby. Billy Bush.
I’M THE ONLY GOOD BILLY ON TV!!!!!
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) April 19, 2017
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