O’Reilly: Sex allegations led to death of Eric Bolling’s son

Published 3:39 pm Tuesday, October 24, 2017

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Bill O’Reilly has apologized for saying the death of his former Fox News colleague’s son was related to sexual harassment allegations against the father.

O’Reilly said in a New York Times podcast Monday: “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.” Nineteen-year-old Eric Chase Bolling died Sept. 8 in Colorado.

Fox News announced hours earlier that it had parted ways with Eric Bolling, who was suspended in August following allegations he sent lewd photos to female co-workers.

Bolling told The Times that O’Reilly’s comment was “beyond inappropriate.” Bolling says his son’s death “was in no way connected” to his parting from Fox News.

Bolling accepted O’Reilly’s apology on Twitter . Fox News fired O’Reilly in April amid sexual misconduct allegations.””

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This Oct. 1, 2015 photo shows Bill O’Reilly of the Fox News Channel program “The O’Reilly Factor” in New York. Former Fox News Channel anchor Megyn Kelly says she complained to her bosses about O’Reilly’s behavior after she had accused former Fox chief Roger Ailes of sexual harassment, and that the abuse and shaming of women has to stop. Kelly, now with her own show on NBC, spoke Monday, Oct. 23, 2017, after it was revealed in The New York Times that Fox paid a $32 million settlement to former Fox analyst Lis Wiehl shortly before his contract was renewed. O’Reilly was fired in April.

AP Photo/Richard Drew