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'This Is Bull': Bill O'Reilly Walks Out of PBS Interview After He's Questioned About 2017 Sexual Harassment Settlements

Split photo of Margaret Hoover and Bill O'Reilly
Source: PBS - FIRING LINE

Sept. 20 2024, Published 5:31 p.m. ET

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Bill O'Reilly refused to respond to questions about the 2017 allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct that led to him being ousted from Fox News during his recent interview with PBS host Margaret Hoover on Firing Line.

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bill oreilly interview margaret hoover
Source: PBS - FIRING LINE

Bill O'Reilly said he 'knew' host Margaret Hoover would ask these questions.

"I want to go back to 2017," she said. "You’re top rated talent at Fox News. You’ve just signed a four year deal to renew your contract, and the Times publishes a report on settlements that you had reached with several women over harassment misconduct claims totaling $13 million dollars. You’re forced out of the network. The Times later reveals an additional settlement worth $32 million dollars. I don’t expect that you can comment on this."

O'Reilly replied, "Well, I knew it was coming. I knew you were inviting me here for a discussion and that would, that would be part of it. But I’d be a fool to dredge that up."

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bill oreilly interview margaret hoover
Source: PBS - FIRING LINE

Bill O'Reilly reportedly paid millions in settlements after being accused of sexual harassment.

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Despite his hesitance to discuss the issue, Hoover went on to read part of a 2017 piece from the Times that accused the television personality of casting the blame on others and "embracing the victimization he so ridiculed of the American left."

When she asked him how he would respond to those allegations, he said, "I don't."

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bill oreilly interview margaret hoover
Source: PBS - FIRING LINE

Bill O'Reilly called it an 'ambush' interview and warned her against airing it.

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He later accused her of "ambushing" him with the questions, before warning her against airing the interview.

"If you’re going to use that stuff, you’re in for a problem. So I’m telling you right now because that’s just bull," he continued. "I’m not going to record any phony c--- like that. You’re going to edit this thing and, you know, my attorney is going to be watching."

O'Reilly abruptly ended the interview after that.

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In a statement shared with a news outlet, Hoover called the back-and-forth "disappointing" and acknowledged that O'Reilly was clearly "uncomfortable fielding questions related to the sexual harassment allegations that are a significant part of his legacy."

"Knowing he would be asked, [he] has not reflected on how the settlements involving him and several women have affected their ability to earn a living in media again, even as he continues to, in his words, ‘flourish’ in independent media," she noted. "I also gave him the opportunity to comment on legislation intended to give victims of sexual harassment additional legal power and the evolution of workplace culture, and he declined."

Hoover spoke with Mediaite about the O'Reilly interview.

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