Within hours of Eric Bolling being pushed out at Fox News in the wake of claims that he sent lewd pictures and made inappropriate comments to his female colleagues, Eric’s son, Eric Chase Bolling, was found dead in Colorado. The timing led a number of right-wing luminaries, such as Wayne Allyn Root, to suggest that the shock of hearing that his father faced being branded as a pervert led Eric Chase to kill himself.
Well, on Saturday, the other high-profile Fox News host to be pushed out for sexual harassment got in on the act. And he did so in such an outrageous manner that Bolling publicly and firmly smacked down any talk that his ordeal was in any way connected to his son’s death.
On Saturday night, The New York Times revealed that Bill O’Reilly agreed to cough up $32 million to longtime network analyst Lis Wiehl. By the most conservative estimate, it was at least the sixth such settlement paid out by O’Reilly. Management at Fox News and parent company 21st Century Fox was well aware of this–and yet granted him a four-year contract extension in February, just two months before it fired him.
On Monday, O’Reilly sat down with Times reporters Emily Steel and Michael Schmidt to discuss this new development. Through it all, O’Reilly continued to portray himself as the victim, and merely agreed to the settlements to protect his children. In the midst of that interview, O’Reilly gave The Old Grey Lady a warning.
“I urge you to think about what you put in your newspaper. Eric Bolling’s son is dead. He’s dead because of allegations made—in my opinion and I know this to be true—against Mr. Bolling.”
When Bolling saw this, he hit the ceiling. Steel obtained this statement from him.
Eric Bolling responds to O'Reilly statement to NYT that Bolling's son died because of allegations against his father https://t.co/dfzQGkVeHD pic.twitter.com/664jOp21MB
— Emily Steel (@emilysteel) October 23, 2017
While Bolling’s statement was directed at O’Reilly, he was also speaking to others who peddled the line that the liberals killed Eric Chase in their zeal to bring down the fair and balanced network.
It had the desired effect. Within hours, O’Reilly did something that he hasn’t done that often over the years. He backed down–at least partially.
Apologies to Eric Bolling and prayers for him and his family. The message I tried to send was that allegations harm kids. Nothing more.
— Bill O'Reilly (@BillOReilly) October 23, 2017
That appeared to satisfy Bolling.
Thanks Bill, apology accepted. https://t.co/2lkUxxAvFD
— Eric Bolling?? (@ericbolling) October 23, 2017
Now will Root and others trying to blame liberals for Eric Chase’s death take notice?
(featured image courtesy Bolling’s Facebook)
