Geraldo Rivera apologizes for defending Ailes over harassment claims
Fox News veteran Geraldo Rivera on Thursday apologized for dismissing sexual harassment claims made by former network host Gretchen Carlson and others against former Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes.
“Like virtually all my colleagues at Fox News, I was totally blindsided by his sexual harassment scandal, which is why I responded to Gretchen Carlson’s initial filing of her lawsuit with extreme skepticism,” Rivera wrote in a Facebook post.
{mosads}”I apologize for my skepticism. Like victims of sexual assault, those alleging harassment deserve the presumption of credibility.”
Rivera then took direct aim at Ailes, who hired him both at CNBC in 1994 and Fox News in 2001.
“The man we knew as the blustering genius who invented our mighty Fox News Channel is a deceitful, selfish misogynist, if the charges against him are true,” the 73-year-old Rivera wrote. “And if they are true, then his shame and banishment are well earned.”
In July, shortly after Carlson filed a lawsuit against Ailes, Rivera vigorously defended Ailes in a tweet, writing: “Don’t believe the crap about #RogerAiles. Only ones talking dirt are those who hate #FoxNews & want to hurt network that’s kicking their ass.”
Rivera on Thursday acknowledged he was wrong, writing that “it became apparent that Gretchen was not alone in alleging abhorrent behavior behind his closed doors.”
“Now I am filled with regret for stubbornly discounting their various allegations.”
The Fox News host also said New York Magazine’s Gabriel Sherman “deserves my apology. He is on the right side of history. I was wrong, and am paying the price.”
Rivera was recently informed that HarperCollins halted plans to proceed with publication of his memoir, “Geraldo of Arabia, From Tora Bora to Trump.”
He said the reason for the change in plans was “because of my uninformed support of Mr. Ailes, and the relatively flattering portrayal of him in an early manuscript.”
HarperCollins is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s media conglomerate News Corp., which also owns Fox News.
Roger Ailes resigned from Fox News on July 21, just 15 days after Carlson went public with her claims.
21st Century Fox has since settled with Gretchen Carlson for a reported $20 million.
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