Fox Backs O'Reilly With Payments

By Alex Dobuzinskis

(Reuters) -- Fox News host Bill O'Reilly and his employer have made payouts totaling about $13 million to five women to settle claims of sexual harassment and other inappropriate behavior, the New York Times reported on Saturday.

O'Reilly said in a statement that he has been unfairly targeted because of his public prominence.

"In my more than 20 years at Fox News Channel, no one has ever filed a complaint about me with the Human Resources Department, even on the anonymous hotline." O'Reilly, host of "The O'Reilly Factor," the network's biggest star, added, "I have put to rest any controversies to spare my children."

Fox News declined to comment.

"While he denies the merits of these claims, Mr. O'Reilly has resolved those he regarded as his personal responsibility," Twenty-First Century Fox Inc, the parent company of Fox News, said in a statement. "Mr. O'Reilly is fully committed to supporting our efforts to improve the environment for all our employees at Fox News."

NY Times graphic

The report follows heightened scrutiny of the workplace climate at Fox News, the top-rated cable news network and unit of Twenty-First Century Fox Inc. Founding Chairman Roger Ailes left the company last year after sexual harassment allegations.

The five women who have received settlements either worked for O'Reilly or appeared as guests on his program, the New York Times reported. Two of the five settlements were previously known.

The largest settlement was a payout of $9 million in a sexual harassment lawsuit former Fox News producer Andrea Mackris brought against O'Reilly in 2004, according to the New York Times.

Two settlements were reached last year after Ailes' departure, the newspaper said.

Fox News anchor Laurie Dhue accused O'Reilly and Ailes of harassing her, but not sexually, and Juliet Huddy, a regular guest on O'Reilly's show, accused O'Reilly of pursuing a sexual relationship with her and trying to hamper her career after she rejected his advances, the newspaper reported.

Roger Ailes

Fox News last year agreed to pay $20 million to settle a harassment suit by former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson on behalf of Ailes, who denied any wrongdoing.

The NY Times reports representatives for 21st Century Fox would not discuss specific accusations against Mr. O’Reilly, but in a written statement to The Times the company acknowledged it had addressed the issue with him.

“21st Century Fox takes matters of workplace behavior very seriously,” the statement said.

“Notwithstanding the fact that no current or former Fox News employee ever took advantage of the 21st Century Fox hotline to raise a concern about Bill O’Reilly, even anonymously, we have looked into these matters over the last few months and discussed them with Mr. O’Reilly. While he denies the merits of these claims, Mr. O’Reilly has resolved those he regarded as his personal responsibility. Mr. O’Reilly is fully committed to supporting our efforts to improve the environment for all our employees at Fox News.”

According to legal experts, companies occasionally settle disputes that they believe have little merit because it is less risky than taking the matters to trial, which can be costly and create a string of embarrassing headlines.