It initially seemed that Fox News Channel had finally bottomed out last year when its founder, Roger Ailes, was pushed out amid overwhelming evidence that he harassed dozens of his female employees over the years. After all, Ailes was given a resign-or-be-fired ultimatum even in the face of record ratings. The network that built its brand on being a right-wing agitprop machine seemed to be getting an overdue dose of karma. But in the wake of the ouster of its longtime superstar, Bill O’Reilly, a number of network executives are openly wondering if this is just the end of the beginning of trouble for the fair and balanced network.
Even though O’Reilly held his own in the face of the controversy, Fox News executives ultimately concluded that he had become a massive liability, and no amount of ratings would be worth it. That move didn’t come without some prodding. With the help of veteran civil rights attorney Lisa Bloom, three more accusers came forward after Wendy Walsh’s explosive story ran in The New York Times.
Bloom was determined to make sure this story didn’t go away, and it worked. The drip drip drip that ensued made the powers that be at 1211 Avenue of the Americas realize that there was no way they could run from this. Ultimately, soon after hearing the results of an internal investigation into O’Reilly’s behavior, they decided to make his vacation permanent.
According to Vanity Fair, there was “ominous tension” at Fox News as Rupert Murdoch made the rounds to announce a major revamping of the schedule. O’Reilly’s former show went off the air for good on Friday night, and Tucker Carlson’s show will move into the 8 p.m. Eastern time slot O’Reilly occupied for two decades. But this goes beyond just a shift in the schedule. One Fox News staffer told Vanity Fair that “there’s more to come” even with O’Reilly gone. He claimed to know of more women who are about to come forward–an account confirmed by two other Fox News sources.
There are a number of other reasons why Fox News officials should have reason to be afraid. For one thing, there is still a very active federal grand jury investigation into Fox News’ business practices during the Ailes era–with one major focus being the settlements that Fox News paid to those who came forward with harassment claims.
Additionally, Bloom has asked the New York State Division of Human Rights to conduct its own review into Fox News’ culture.
I wondered why somebody didn't do something. Then I realized, I am somebody.
Let's put a stop to this, people.https://t.co/PTCk8zm9ys
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) April 11, 2017
Read the letter here. Bloom points out what most of us already know–that Fox News was well aware of Ailes’ sordid past and hired him anyway. In the process, it paved the way for him to become both the “most powerful” and “most predatory” man in American mass media. She contends that O’Reilly was second only to Ailes in predatory behavior, and claims that no fewer than four of the women who reached settlements after claiming O’Reilly harassed them have effectively been driven out of television. Bloom also touches on allegations of racist behavior by longtime comptroller Judy Slater, who was fired last March after an internal investigation.
So now we may have as many as two independent parties taking a long, hard look at the dark matter surrounding Fox News’ culture. No wonder network executives are nervous.
(featured image courtesy Jim.henderson, part of public domain)
