Fox News settles sexual harassment claim against Bill O'Reilly, Jack Abernethy


Fox News Channel has agreed to settle with former host Juliet Huddy, who complained of sexual harassment against the network's biggest star, Bill O'Reilly, and co-president Jack Abernethy, according to LawNewz.

LawNewz reported that it obtained "a draft of the intent to sue letter which was sent or handed to Fox News" that named both men and accused them of sexual harassment. Citing sources, LawNewz reported that "the amount paid out was in the high six figures" and O'Reilly and Abernethy aren't forced to pay anything out of their own pocket.

See images of Bill O'Reilly:

A spokesperson for Fox News confirmed the existence of the letter but told TheWrap, "The letter contains substantial falsehoods and we won't otherwise comment on this matter."

Abernathy and O'Reilly strongly denied all of the charges made against them by Huddy from the start, according to the legal website.

Fox New inked Abernathy signed a multi-year deal after the network learning of the allegations, which shows the company had his back from the start. Huddy's father, John Huddy Sr., was a former right-hand man of former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, who stepped down last year amid his own sexual harassment allegations.

RELATED: Highest paid hosts on TV:

John Huddy Sr. was fired by Fox News shortly after Ailes stepped down and weeks before his daughter's claim. The Huddy family is extremely close with Ailes, and Juliet Huddy left the network only one day after Fox settled with Gretchen Carlson, the former host who initially brought the claims against Ailes.

LawNewz cites a source familiar with the matter saying, "There was no sexual harassment, any purported claim made by Ms. Huddy would be nothing more than opportunistic fabrication... concocted to cash in on the legal settlement from Fox News."

Read original story Fox News Settles Sexual Harassment Claim Against Bill O'Reilly, Jack Abernethy At TheWrap


Advertisement