The Fox News reporter apologizes to the awards-winning actress/singer after accused of groping Midler in the 1970s, but insists that he remembers it differently.
- December 2, 2017
AceShowbiz -
Geraldo Rivera is sort of apologizing for allegedly groping Bette Midler back in the 1970s. The veteran actress/singer revisited the incident in a tweet posted on Thursday, November 30, by sharing a 1991 clip of an interview with Barbara Walters in which she recalled Rivera and an unnamed producer groping her more than 30 years ago.
In the 1991 clip, Midler called Rivera a "slimy talk show host" and said, "This was when [Rivera] was very, sort of, hot. And he and his producer left the crew in the other room, they pushed me into my bathroom, they broke two poppers and pushed them under my nose and proceeded to grope me. Groped me. I did not offer myself up on the altar of Geraldo Rivera. He was - he was unseemly."
The video resurfaced on the internet after Rivera defended Matt Lauer against sexual harassment allegations that led to his firing from "Today". "Sad about @MLauer great guy, highly skilled & empathetic w guests & a real gentleman to my family & me. News is a flirty business & it seems like [the] current epidemic of #SexHarassmentAllegations may be criminalizing courtship & conflating it [with] predation," the Fox News reporter tweeted.
Sad about @MLauer great guy, highly skilled & empathetic w guests & a real gentleman to my family & me. News is a flirty business & it seems like current epidemic of #SexHarassmentAllegations may be criminalizing courtship & conflating it w predation. What about #GarrisonKeillor?
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) November 29, 2017
After his controversial tweet drew backlash, Rivera subsequently apologized for it. He wrote, "Reaction to my tweets today on #sexharassment makes clear. I didn't sufficiently explain that this is a horrendous problem long hidden-Harassers are deviants who deserve what is coming to them-Often victims are too frightened to come forward in a timely fashion-I humbly apologize."
Reaction to my tweets today on #sexharassment makes clear
I didn't sufficiently explain that this is a horrendous problem
long hidden-Harassers are deviants who deserve what is coming
to them-Often victims are too frightened to come
forward in a timely fashion-I humbly apologize
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) November 30, 2017
Midler then brought up the alleged groping incident in her tweet. "Geraldo may have apologized for his tweets supporting Matt Lauer, but he has yet to apologize for this," she tweeted, adding the hashtag #MeToo.
Tomorrow is my birthday. I feel like this video was a gift from the universe to me. Geraldo may have apologized for his tweets supporting Matt Lauer, but he has yet to apologize for this. #MeToo pic.twitter.com/TkcolFWfA2
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) November 30, 2017
Rivera then responded to Midler's tweet, writing on his own page, "27 years ago I wrote a tawdry book depicting consensual events in 1973-45 years ago-I've deeply regretted its distasteful & disrespectful tone & have refrained from speaking about it-I'm embarrassed & profoundly sorry to those mentioned-I have & again apologize to anyone offended."
27 years ago I wrote a tawdry book depicting consensual events in 1973-45 years ago-I’ve deeply regretted its distasteful & disrespectful tone & have refrained from speaking about it-I’m embarrassed & profoundly sorry to those mentioned-I have & again apologize to anyone offended
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) December 1, 2017
He added, "Although I recall the time @BetteMidler has alluded to much differently than she, that does not change the fact that she has a right to speak out & demand an apology from me, for in the very least, publically embarrassing her all those years ago. Bette, I apologize."
Although I recall the time @BetteMidler has alluded to much differently than she, that does not change the fact that she has a right to speak out & demand an apology from me, for in the very least, publically embarrassing her all those years ago. Bette, I apologize.
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) December 1, 2017
While he has apologized to Midler, Rivera didn't acknowledge that he groped Midler in the 1970s, as he didn't mention what he apologized for and insisted that he remembers the incident "differently."
