Bill O’Reilly is out at Fox News after a swirling sexual harassment scandal refused to let up on its prime-time star.
“After a thorough and careful review of allegations against him, the Company and Bill O’Reilly have agreed that Mr. O’Reilly will not return to the Fox News Channel,” 21st Century Fox said in a statement Wednesday.
An internal statement by the company’s executives added that the decision followed “an extensive review done in collaboration with outside counsel.”
Signed by Rupert, Lachlan and James Murdoch, the statement also acknowledged O’Reilly as “one of the most accomplished TV personalities in the history of cable news” of “indisputable” success.
The announcement followed hours of intense speculation that O’Reilly was finally on his way out, first triggered by a New York Times article earlier this month that revealed Fox and O’Reilly had settled multiple sexual harassment claims with a number of women, totaling in the millions of dollars.
O’Reilly is currently on vacation in Italy and had been scheduled to return Monday.
His ousting comes after two decades of anchoring his highly rated program, “The O’Reilly Factor,” which reportedly brought in millions of dollars of revenue for Fox.
After the Times’ initial report on all the harassment claims, advertisers began fleeing the “Factor” en masse.
An internal Fox memo instructed staff of the channel’s new prime-time program lineup. Taking O’Reilly’s 8 p.m. slot is the new and popular “Tucker Tonight,” hosted by Tucker Carlson, whose show previously followed O’Reilly’s.
Taking Carlson’s spot at 9 p.m. is “The Five,” which currently runs at 5 p.m.
Beginning on May 1, Fox host Eric Bolling will debut an as-yet untitled one-hour program.
It’s unclear what O’Reilly will do going forward. He is a prolific bestselling author, newspaper columnist and heads a personal website with original video content.
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#BREAKING: Bill O'Reilly out at Fox News https://t.co/AmvhNTdT7q pic.twitter.com/3uMBUfPQ2m
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) April 19, 2017
The two tent poles of Fox News — Roger Ailes and Bill O'Reilly — both undone in last year because of sexual immorality.
— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) April 19, 2017
You're about to enter the no show zone… pic.twitter.com/HrXCtOWIBz
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) April 19, 2017
FOX NEWS: TUCKER CARLSON TO MOVE TO 8PM SLOT, THE FIVE SHIFTS TO 9PM pic.twitter.com/iFSBV4fkoY
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) April 19, 2017
I’m not going to weep for Bill O. Couldn’t stand his know-it-all attitude and constantly interrupting his guests. Advertising for his show often called him a “conservative journalist,” but he was neither a conservative nor a journalist. He’s just another tv talking head.
I’m sure he’ll land on his feet. Maybe MSNBC will take him.
BREAKING: Statement from Bill O'Reilly, who is currently on a plane back from Italy >> pic.twitter.com/UCnUjNQSrS
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) April 19, 2017
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