Former Fox News anchor Bill O’Reilly decided to share his thoughts on the sexual harassment scandal that caused New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign Tuesday, but the conservative broadcaster’s own checkered past has people wondering why he thought this was an appropriate subject to discuss online.
In a tweet, O’Reilly seemed to criticize Cuomo for his actions — a recent report from New York Attorney General Leticia James found that Cuomo sexually harassed “a number” of state employees; at least a dozen women have come forward accusing the prominent democratic governor of inappropriate behavior.
“Like Cuomo, many of the loudest woke voices have quiet resumes that are appalling; especially in the media and in Hollywood,” O’Reilly said August 10.
O’Reilly had also previously tweeted, “Cuomo quits as New York Governor. I suspect he made some “deals” with state authorities. Don’t expect criminal charges but he’ll...
In a tweet, O’Reilly seemed to criticize Cuomo for his actions — a recent report from New York Attorney General Leticia James found that Cuomo sexually harassed “a number” of state employees; at least a dozen women have come forward accusing the prominent democratic governor of inappropriate behavior.
“Like Cuomo, many of the loudest woke voices have quiet resumes that are appalling; especially in the media and in Hollywood,” O’Reilly said August 10.
O’Reilly had also previously tweeted, “Cuomo quits as New York Governor. I suspect he made some “deals” with state authorities. Don’t expect criminal charges but he’ll...
- 8/11/2021
- by Samson Amore
- The Wrap
ABC News was forced to postpone the planned appearance today of one of Bill O’Reilly’s sexual misconduct accusers on The View after O’Reilly’s legal team was granted a temporary restraining order against the accuser, a former The O’Reilly Factor producer.
The order was sought by O’Reilly to hold Andrea Mackris to the terms of a non-disclosure agreement that keeps her from talking about the case.
Mackris signed the agreement as part of her 2004 settlement with the conservative talk host, but she recently went public in an interview with The Daily Beast, providing extensive details of her allegations.
“We were notified late yesterday about a temporary restraining order issued by a court against Andrea Mackris,” said a spokesperson for ABC News. “We decided to postpone her interview pending further developments. We look forward to welcoming her to The View at a later date.”
Mackris received a $9 million settlement.
The order was sought by O’Reilly to hold Andrea Mackris to the terms of a non-disclosure agreement that keeps her from talking about the case.
Mackris signed the agreement as part of her 2004 settlement with the conservative talk host, but she recently went public in an interview with The Daily Beast, providing extensive details of her allegations.
“We were notified late yesterday about a temporary restraining order issued by a court against Andrea Mackris,” said a spokesperson for ABC News. “We decided to postpone her interview pending further developments. We look forward to welcoming her to The View at a later date.”
Mackris received a $9 million settlement.
- 7/21/2021
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
“The View” postponed Wednesday’s interview with Andrea Mackris, the woman who accused Bill O’Reilly of sexual harassment, after becoming aware of a restraining order he filed against her Tuesday night.
“We were notified late yesterday about a temporary restraining order issued by a court against Andrea Mackris. We decided to postpone her interview pending further developments. We look forward to welcoming her to ‘The View’ at a later date,” a representative told TheWrap Wednesday after a notice went out to media that Mackris would not appear on the daily talkshow.
Mackris recently ignored her years-long non-disclosure agreement and gave a full interview to The Daily Beast outlining the process by which she settled her sexual harassment claim against O’Reilly for $9 million in 2004, when he was a top star at Fox News, and the impact that it’s all had on her life since.
“An experienced and highly respected...
“We were notified late yesterday about a temporary restraining order issued by a court against Andrea Mackris. We decided to postpone her interview pending further developments. We look forward to welcoming her to ‘The View’ at a later date,” a representative told TheWrap Wednesday after a notice went out to media that Mackris would not appear on the daily talkshow.
Mackris recently ignored her years-long non-disclosure agreement and gave a full interview to The Daily Beast outlining the process by which she settled her sexual harassment claim against O’Reilly for $9 million in 2004, when he was a top star at Fox News, and the impact that it’s all had on her life since.
“An experienced and highly respected...
- 7/21/2021
- by Lindsey Ellefson
- The Wrap
Bill O’Reilly is looking to enforce the confidentiality provision of a 2004 settlement agreement and stop his former producer Andrea Mackris from disparaging him in interviews.
After hearing that Mackris was scheduled to appear on The View, and getting an emailed invitation from the ABC talk show to submit a statement, the former Fox News host rushed to a New York court for a temporary restraining order. On Wednesday, the judge ordered Mackris to show cause by Monday why a Tro should not be entered, and in the interim, directed that she should not engage in any conduct in breach of ...
After hearing that Mackris was scheduled to appear on The View, and getting an emailed invitation from the ABC talk show to submit a statement, the former Fox News host rushed to a New York court for a temporary restraining order. On Wednesday, the judge ordered Mackris to show cause by Monday why a Tro should not be entered, and in the interim, directed that she should not engage in any conduct in breach of ...
- 7/21/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bill O’Reilly is looking to enforce the confidentiality provision of a 2004 settlement agreement and stop his former producer Andrea Mackris from disparaging him in interviews.
After hearing that Mackris was scheduled to appear on The View, and getting an emailed invitation from the ABC talk show to submit a statement, the former Fox News host rushed to a New York court for a temporary restraining order. On Wednesday, the judge ordered Mackris to show cause by Monday why a Tro should not be entered, and in the interim, directed that she should not engage in any conduct in breach of ...
After hearing that Mackris was scheduled to appear on The View, and getting an emailed invitation from the ABC talk show to submit a statement, the former Fox News host rushed to a New York court for a temporary restraining order. On Wednesday, the judge ordered Mackris to show cause by Monday why a Tro should not be entered, and in the interim, directed that she should not engage in any conduct in breach of ...
- 7/21/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Andrea Mackris, who settled her sexual harassment claim against Bill O’Reilly for $9 million in 2004, spoke out Tuesday about the full scope of her claims and the process of settling them. Mackris has a non-disclosure agreement, but spoke to the outlet anyway, saying, “Here was my boss, a man who held my career and future in his hands, acknowledging that he knew I’d never consented but he didn’t care.”
“I didn’t release a statement, he did. It was part of the NDA on October 28, 2004,” the former Fox News employee said. “I had no choice, no way out. He uses it to abuse me. That same document says Bill won’t breach, which he’s done over and over, calling me a liar. It cuts both ways.”
O’Reilly was fired from Fox News over sexual harassment accusations in 2017. In 2004, Mackris was 33 years old and had worked under O...
“I didn’t release a statement, he did. It was part of the NDA on October 28, 2004,” the former Fox News employee said. “I had no choice, no way out. He uses it to abuse me. That same document says Bill won’t breach, which he’s done over and over, calling me a liar. It cuts both ways.”
O’Reilly was fired from Fox News over sexual harassment accusations in 2017. In 2004, Mackris was 33 years old and had worked under O...
- 7/13/2021
- by Lindsey Ellefson
- The Wrap
A federal court judge in New York made public the confidential settlements reached between Bill O’Reilly and three women who accused the former Fox News host of misconduct.
Judge Deborah Batts, who is presiding over a defamation suit filed last year, rejected O’Reilly’s request to keep the agreements private (read the ruling here). She wrote that his concerns about disclosing “embarrassing conduct with no public ramifications” are not sufficient to trump the public’s right to view documents the court relied on to reach its decision in the case.
“A possibility of future adverse impact on employment or the celebrity status of a party is not a ‘higher value’ sufficient to overcome the presumption of access to judicial documents,” Batts wrote.
Indeed, the judge notes, O’Reilly “asks the court to resolve a dispute by relying on the very documents he seeks to shield from public view.
Judge Deborah Batts, who is presiding over a defamation suit filed last year, rejected O’Reilly’s request to keep the agreements private (read the ruling here). She wrote that his concerns about disclosing “embarrassing conduct with no public ramifications” are not sufficient to trump the public’s right to view documents the court relied on to reach its decision in the case.
“A possibility of future adverse impact on employment or the celebrity status of a party is not a ‘higher value’ sufficient to overcome the presumption of access to judicial documents,” Batts wrote.
Indeed, the judge notes, O’Reilly “asks the court to resolve a dispute by relying on the very documents he seeks to shield from public view.
- 4/5/2018
- by Dawn C. Chmielewski
- Deadline Film + TV
Details of Bill O’Reilly’s harassment settlements with three woman have come to light now that a federal judge has denied O’Reilly’s request to keep the agreements sealed in connection with a defamation lawsuit filed by his accusers.
U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts of New York’s Southern District nixed O’Reilly’s effort to keep the settlements under seal and to force the defamation suit into private arbitration. In a ruling issued Tuesday, Batts concluded: “Defendant O’Reilly has failed to present compelling countervailing factors that could overcome the presumption of public access to the Agreements in question.”
Plaintiffs Rachel Wittlieb, Rebecca Diamond and Andrea Mackris claim that statements made during the past year by O’Reilly, Fox News parent 21st Century Fox and Fox boss Rupert Murdoch amount to defamation and a breach of the separate agreements that the three women reached with O’Reilly.
U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts of New York’s Southern District nixed O’Reilly’s effort to keep the settlements under seal and to force the defamation suit into private arbitration. In a ruling issued Tuesday, Batts concluded: “Defendant O’Reilly has failed to present compelling countervailing factors that could overcome the presumption of public access to the Agreements in question.”
Plaintiffs Rachel Wittlieb, Rebecca Diamond and Andrea Mackris claim that statements made during the past year by O’Reilly, Fox News parent 21st Century Fox and Fox boss Rupert Murdoch amount to defamation and a breach of the separate agreements that the three women reached with O’Reilly.
- 4/4/2018
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
The public is getting a first glimpse at Bill O’Reilly’s sexual harassment settlements after a federal judge blocked the former Fox News host’s motion to seal them in a defamation case against him.
Judge Deborah Batts of New York ruled Tuesday that O’Reilly “failed to present compelling countervailing factors” that would overrule public access to the documents, CNN reported.
“Defendant O’Reilly asks the Court to resolve a dispute by relying on the very Agreements he seeks to shield from public view,” Batts wrote.
Also Read: Bill O'Reilly, Fox News Sued for Defamation by Female Accuser
According to the documents, Andrea Mackris, Rebecca Gomez Diamond and Rachel Witlieb Bernstein said that O’Reilly, Fox News and 21st Century Fox defamed them by calling them liars and extortionists when he denied any wrongdoing.
The agreement between O’Reilly and Mackris — a former Fox News producer — demanded that all parties in the case disclaim any evidence “as counterfeit or forgeries” should it be made public, which Mackris’ lawyers argued Wednesday, required her to “lie.”
Mackris filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against O’Reilly in 2004.
Also Read: 21st Century Fox Boss James Murdoch on Bill O'Reilly $32 Million Settlement: 'News to Me'
In another twist, CNN reported Wednesday that the new filing by Mackris’ lawyers noted that her attorney during the settlement, Benedict Morelli, switched sides and became O’Reilly’s lawyer during negotiations.
“This profoundly unethical conflict left Ms. Mackris virtually without legal counsel,” the filing said.
Morelli told TheWrap in a statement: “Every step we took was to negotiate the best possible deal for Ms. Mackris. We worked extremely hard to secure a significant financial settlement for her. The claim that I did not vigorously represent her, or that I represented O’Reilly during or after the settlement process, is absolutely false.”
The women further contend that they were “forced to relinquish audio and video tapes recording O’Reilly’s harassment and abuse,” arguing that Bo Dietl, a private investigator and frequent Fox News commentator, accumulated “tapes, photographs, emails, letters, calendars and diaries” while investigating Mackris.
Dietl told CNN that he was hired by the law firm that represented O’Reilly and Fox News.
“There’s a reason we’re in a business for 33 years. We don’t do anything illegal or improper,” Dietl said. “All we do is find out the truth, and whatever we find we submit to the attorneys and they do what they want to do.”
Also Read: UTA Parts Ways With Bill O'Reilly in Wake of $32 Million Settlement Report
All three women said that they were smeared by statements made by O’Reilly, Fox News and 21st Century Fox. Mackris and Diamond accused O’Reilly of sexual harassment while Bernstein accused him of verbal abuse and discrimination.
O’Reilly has repeatedly denied the accusations. He was fired from Fox News in 2017 after a New York Times report said he paid tens of millions in sexual harassment settlements over decades.
Fred Newman, an attorney representing O’Reilly, said in a statement to CNN on Wednesday that “the only reason Bill O’Reilly settled any cases was to protect his children.”
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.
Read original story Bill O’Reilly’s Accusers Say Sexual Harassment Deal Required Them to ‘Lie’ At TheWrap...
Judge Deborah Batts of New York ruled Tuesday that O’Reilly “failed to present compelling countervailing factors” that would overrule public access to the documents, CNN reported.
“Defendant O’Reilly asks the Court to resolve a dispute by relying on the very Agreements he seeks to shield from public view,” Batts wrote.
Also Read: Bill O'Reilly, Fox News Sued for Defamation by Female Accuser
According to the documents, Andrea Mackris, Rebecca Gomez Diamond and Rachel Witlieb Bernstein said that O’Reilly, Fox News and 21st Century Fox defamed them by calling them liars and extortionists when he denied any wrongdoing.
The agreement between O’Reilly and Mackris — a former Fox News producer — demanded that all parties in the case disclaim any evidence “as counterfeit or forgeries” should it be made public, which Mackris’ lawyers argued Wednesday, required her to “lie.”
Mackris filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against O’Reilly in 2004.
Also Read: 21st Century Fox Boss James Murdoch on Bill O'Reilly $32 Million Settlement: 'News to Me'
In another twist, CNN reported Wednesday that the new filing by Mackris’ lawyers noted that her attorney during the settlement, Benedict Morelli, switched sides and became O’Reilly’s lawyer during negotiations.
“This profoundly unethical conflict left Ms. Mackris virtually without legal counsel,” the filing said.
Morelli told TheWrap in a statement: “Every step we took was to negotiate the best possible deal for Ms. Mackris. We worked extremely hard to secure a significant financial settlement for her. The claim that I did not vigorously represent her, or that I represented O’Reilly during or after the settlement process, is absolutely false.”
The women further contend that they were “forced to relinquish audio and video tapes recording O’Reilly’s harassment and abuse,” arguing that Bo Dietl, a private investigator and frequent Fox News commentator, accumulated “tapes, photographs, emails, letters, calendars and diaries” while investigating Mackris.
Dietl told CNN that he was hired by the law firm that represented O’Reilly and Fox News.
“There’s a reason we’re in a business for 33 years. We don’t do anything illegal or improper,” Dietl said. “All we do is find out the truth, and whatever we find we submit to the attorneys and they do what they want to do.”
Also Read: UTA Parts Ways With Bill O'Reilly in Wake of $32 Million Settlement Report
All three women said that they were smeared by statements made by O’Reilly, Fox News and 21st Century Fox. Mackris and Diamond accused O’Reilly of sexual harassment while Bernstein accused him of verbal abuse and discrimination.
O’Reilly has repeatedly denied the accusations. He was fired from Fox News in 2017 after a New York Times report said he paid tens of millions in sexual harassment settlements over decades.
Fred Newman, an attorney representing O’Reilly, said in a statement to CNN on Wednesday that “the only reason Bill O’Reilly settled any cases was to protect his children.”
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.
Read original story Bill O’Reilly’s Accusers Say Sexual Harassment Deal Required Them to ‘Lie’ At TheWrap...
- 4/4/2018
- by Itay Hod
- The Wrap
Nearly 15 years ago, a former <em>O'Reilly Factor</em> staffer named Andrea Mackris settled a sexual harassment lawsuit against Bill O'Reilly for millions of dollars. Now, Mackris is back in court with O'Reilly, accusing him of breaching the settlement's confidentiality provision and defaming her in his response to news reports about old settlements. In court papers filed Wednesday, her attorneys are now raising ethical issues, too.
Mackris, along with Rachel Witlieb Bernstein and Rebecca Diamond, <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/bill-oreilly-fox-news-sued-disparaging-female-accuser-1063897" target="_blank">filed the lawsuit</a> in December. The defendants including Fox News have <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/fox-news-fights-claims-defaming-bill-oreillys-accusers-1096005" target="_blank">demanded arbitration or dismissal</a>.
If this case isn't arbitrated, O'Reilly ...
Mackris, along with Rachel Witlieb Bernstein and Rebecca Diamond, <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/bill-oreilly-fox-news-sued-disparaging-female-accuser-1063897" target="_blank">filed the lawsuit</a> in December. The defendants including Fox News have <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/fox-news-fights-claims-defaming-bill-oreillys-accusers-1096005" target="_blank">demanded arbitration or dismissal</a>.
If this case isn't arbitrated, O'Reilly ...
Updated, 4:55 Pm: The three women who are suing former Fox News Channel star Bill O’Reilly for defamation today filed court papers (read the docs here) opposing his motion to have the case dismissed or at least arbitrated in private. Nancy Erika Smith, one of the lawyers for Rebecca Gomez Diamond, Andrea Mackris and Rachel Witlieb Bernstein, said of O’Reilly: “Now he wants his victims to submit to arbitration, so he can avoid publicly defending those indefensible statements.” According to the filing (read it here), by acting as though no arbitration agreement exists, O’Reilly waived any right to compel arbitration of the women’s defamation claims.
Previously, March 30: Three women are seeking to include 21st Century Fox in their defamation suit against Bill O’Reilly, claiming the media giant continues to promote and maintain the profile of the former Fox News host, and provide him a platform,...
Previously, March 30: Three women are seeking to include 21st Century Fox in their defamation suit against Bill O’Reilly, claiming the media giant continues to promote and maintain the profile of the former Fox News host, and provide him a platform,...
- 4/3/2018
- by Dawn C. Chmielewski
- Deadline Film + TV
Rachel Witlieb Bernstein, Andrea Mackris and Rebecca Diamond — three women who settled misconduct claims against Bill O'Reilly — are now seeking permission to add 21st Century Fox to a lawsuit.
The three plaintiffs have already accused O'Reilly and Fox News of defaming them and breaching both the nondisparagement and confidentiality clauses of their settlements in reaction to stories revealing the settlements. Just a week after both O'Reilly and Fox News <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/fox-news-fights-claims-defaming-bill-oreillys-accusers-1096005" target="_blank">brought motions to dismiss</a>, the three plaintiffs are now claiming new defamatory statements plus suggesting that 21st Century Fox has failed to sufficiently cut ties with O'...
The three plaintiffs have already accused O'Reilly and Fox News of defaming them and breaching both the nondisparagement and confidentiality clauses of their settlements in reaction to stories revealing the settlements. Just a week after both O'Reilly and Fox News <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/fox-news-fights-claims-defaming-bill-oreillys-accusers-1096005" target="_blank">brought motions to dismiss</a>, the three plaintiffs are now claiming new defamatory statements plus suggesting that 21st Century Fox has failed to sufficiently cut ties with O'...
- 3/30/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Update, 10:40 Am: Two additional former Fox News employees have joined a defamation suit against Fox News and Bill O’Reilly filed earlier this month. The three women claim that O’Reilly violated confidentiality and non-disparagement agreements. Andrea Mackris and Rebecca Gomez Diamond joined the defamation suit today. They, like Rachel Witlieb Bernstein, had entered into settlement agreements stemming from alleged sexual harassment from O’Reilly, and now say O’Reilly…...
- 12/20/2017
- Deadline TV
NEW YORK -- Fox News Channel television host Bill O'Reilly and a former producer of his talk show have agreed to settle their legal dispute over her allegations of sexual harassment, O'Reilly's lawyer announced Thursday. Andrea Mackris had claimed O'Reilly made a series of explicit phone calls to her, advised her to use a vibrator and telling her about sexual fantasies involving her. O'Reilly actually sued Mackris hours before her case was filed Oct. 13. The talk show host said he was fighting an extortion attempt, that Mackris and her lawyer demanded $60 million in "hush money" to make the case quietly go away. O'Reilly, who's married, is host of the top-rated prime-time cable news program -- and he's seen his ratings go up by 30 percent since the case was filed. O'Reilly's lawyer, Ronald Green, issued a statement Thursday saying both sides "regret that this matter has caused tremendous pain, and they have agreed to settle. All cases and claims have been withdrawn, and all parties have agreed that there was no wrongdoing whatsoever by Mr. O'Reilly, Ms. Mackris, or Ms. Mackris' counsel, Benedict P. Morelli & Associates." Mackris' lawyer did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment. Green's statement also said he and O'Reilly "withdraw any assertion that any extortion by Ms. Mackris, Mr. Morelli" or his law firm occurred. "Out of respect for their families and privacy, all parties and their representatives have agreed that all information relating to the cases shall remain confidential," Green's statement said.
- 10/29/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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