Women’s Group Slams NBC, The Today Show for Rehabilitating Serial Sexual Predator Bill O’Reilly’s Image
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, September 18, 2017
CONTACT: Brett Abrams | brett@unbendablemedia.com | (516) 841-1105
Women’s Group Slams NBC, The Today Show for Rehabilitating Serial Sexual Predator Bill O’Reilly’s Image
Statement from Nita Chaudhary, co-founder of UltraViolet, a leading women’s advocacy organization, on news that Bill O’Reilly will be a guest on The Today Show, tomorrow:
“It is outrageous and shameful that the Today Show is giving a serial sexual predator like Bill O’Reilly such a prominent platform to spew his hate, ignorance and misogyny. O’Reilly will no doubt use this appearance—which his PR team likely worked on for weeks – to attempt to rehabilitate his public image after numerous sexual assault scandals forced him out at Fox News.
“The reality is that Bill O’Reilly remains an unrepentant sexual predator, and he continues to blame the women he assaulted, for his demise at Fox News. By dismissing O’Reilly’s sexual violence against women, and having him as a guest on their show the Today Show, the crown jewel of NBC News, is directly contributing to rape culture in America: where the crimes committed against survivors of sexual assault and sexual predators are normalized.”
Since August 2016, UltraViolet has called for Fox News to fire Bill O’Reilly and launch a full investigation into sexual harassment and abuse at the network.
- In April, UltraViolet released an online video ad targeting members of the board of 21st Century Fox ahead of their board meeting Thursday to decide the fate of Bill O’Reilly. The video documents stories of women sexually-harassed by Bill O’Reilly.
- On Tuesday, April 18th, members of UltraViolet and survivors of sexual assault protested at Fox News’ HQ’s in New York Citydemanding the company fire Bill O’Reilly.
- In addition to the protest, UltraVIolet commissioned a plane to fly around Manhattan with a banner reading “FOX: #DROPOREILLY, THE SEXUAL PREDATOR.”
- Members of UltraViolet also placed posters around Fox New’s midtown HQ asking “Have you also been sexually harassed by Bill?” with the message to Fox News that it is time to #DropOReilly.
- Nearly 300 survivors of sexual assault signed onto an UltraViolet letter to 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch demanding accountability for sexual harassment and assault at Fox News urging Murdoch to fire Bill O’Reilly.
- Earlier this week, UltraViolet renewed online ads asking Fox News employees, “Have You Been Sexually Harassed by Bill?”
- In August 2016, following claims that Andrea Tantaros was sexually harassed by Bill O’Reilly, UltraViolet called for the O’Reilly Factor host to be immediately suspended, and a full investigation launched into sexual harassment and abuse at the news network.
- In January 2017, after the New York Times reported that Roger Ailes secretly settled sexual harassment claims against O’Reilly, UltraViolet demanded the network fire O’Reilly.
- UltraViolet launched and maintains an online ad campaign targeting Fox News employees with an ad reading: “Have You Been Harassed by Bill?”
- More than 79,000 UltraViolet members signed onto a petition calling on 21st Century Fox to fire Fox News CEO Bill Shine and Fox News host Bill O’Reilly over their roles in taking part in and covering up abuse at Fox News.
- More than 60,000 UltraViolet members have signed onto a petition calling on advertisers to the O’Reilly Factor and Fox News to cut ties with the network over the lack of accountability for sex crimes.
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