Fox’s Kennedy broaches Ailes, O’Reilly in Weinstein segment

Fox Business host Lisa Kennedy brought up former Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes and former host Bill O’Reilly during a segment on numerous allegations of sexual harassment and assault against media mogul Harvey Weinstein.

The prime-time host pointed out during a panel discussion on Tuesday night that the heavy coverage of Weinstein is newsworthy, given public interest in such scandals involving powerful people.

“The public has an appetite for it. After seeing what’s happened here with Roger Ailes and Bill O’Reilly, and now it’s happening with Harvey Weinstein. There’s a sense of justice.”

{mosads}She also said the winds are shifting against those who have held political power for a long time without being truly challenged.

“It speaks to the anti-establishment-ism that’s happening in Washington, D.C.,” Kennedy said. “Powerful people have had their way for a long time, and there’s a revolution happening.”

Fox News and Fox Business have devoted ample time to the firestorm around Weinstein, a prominent donor to Democratic campaigns including those of former President Obama and 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Obama and Clinton waited five days before condemning Weinstein. The delay in responding by the two party heavyweights, along with other big names in Hollywood, has led to multiple segments across cable news on the matter, particularly on the two Fox cable outlets.

Ailes was removed from Fox News two weeks after former host Gretchen Carlson filed a lawsuit against him alleging sexual harassment in July 2016. The 77-year-old Ailes died in April.

O’Reilly, the top-rated host on cable news for the past 15 years, was ousted in April of this year after a New York Times report revealed payments of $13 million to five women who accused O’Reilly of sexual harassment.

The network has since promoted several women to top positions in the organization, including Suzanne Scott to president of programming.