James and Lachlan Murdoch reportedly strongly want to fire Bill, while their father, CEO Rupert Murdoch, wants to stick with the embattled Fox News host, not wanting the ratings to drop.
- Apr 19, 2017
AceShowbiz - Bill O'Reilly may extend his sudden vacation much longer that he's planned. A new report suggests that Bill may not be able to return to the air as the Murdoch family is considering to turn against him after the sexual harassment scandal explodes.
According to NYMag, the Murdochs are leaning toward announcing that Bill is fired, although final decision has yet to be made. Sons James and Lachlan Murdoch reportedly are strongly suggesting that Bill needs to get cut. However, their father, CEO Rupert Murdoch, doesn't necessarily think that firing Bill is a good move.
Sources claim that "the three are fighting" over the fate of the embattled Fox News host. The fact that Bill is still Fox News' top-rated host makes Rupert hesitate to fire Bill, being afraid of a steep drop in ratings should they decide to cut Bill.
A network insider says Fox executives are alarmed by the severity of the ad-revenue decline. "It's worse than Glenn Beck," the insider claims, referring to the advertiser revolt that ended Glenn's Fox News career back in 2011.
The pressure for the Murdochs intensifies as Bill's recent sexual harassment scandal has led a small group of protesters to gather outside Fox News' headquarters in midtown Manhattan on Tuesday, April 18. Bringing various signs, the group of less than 100 people demanded the network to boycott the host, chanting "Fire Him" and "Fire Bill O'Reilly".
Organized by the women's advocacy group UltraViolet, Tuesday's protest also saw some people representing the National Organization for Women and civil rights org Color of Change among the protesters. Carol Barash, the founder and head of New York City-based digital firm Story2 and a member of UltraViolet, said, "This is bigger than women, this is bigger than gender." Carol added, "This is about fundamental human rights for all people in the workplace," before voting orgs like UltraViolet "will keep demanding change until there is change."
Bill is currently accused of sex harassment after New York Times exposed the alleged sex scandal. The newspaper reported in early April that Bill and Fox News had reached multiple settlements of sexual harassment or other inappropriate behavior by the network's primetime star. Bill, however, denied all the allegations, blaming his fame which made him a target "for those who would harm me and my employer, the Fox News Channel."
Should Fox News continue to have Bill on their show, Bill is set to return to the airwaves on April 24.
