Former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson blasted Roy Moore and the political polarization that is keeping him in contention in the Alabama Senate Race
Former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson blasted GOP candidate Roy Moore and the political polarization that is keeping him in contention in the Alabama Senate Race.
During an appearance on the digital news network BoldTV Friday, Carlson said she was stunned that there would be so many voters willing to vote for someone facing those kinds of allegations.
“We have reached rock bottom in our political divide,” said Carlson. “It’s very disheartening to me that people on either side would say that even if the allegations are all proven to 150 percent, that they’d still vote for a child predator. That’s sad. That it’s more important that the other person doesn’t get into office so we’re going to not recognize that somebody may have been a child molester. That’s crazy in 2017 that we’re in that kind of an abyss of political divide.”
Also Read: Gretchen Carlson Says She Showed Trump’s ‘Access Hollywood’ Tape to Her Children (Video)
Carlson, who became an early icon of the movement against sexual harassment with her own lawsuit against Fox News over allegations of sexual misconduct by then CEO Roger Ailes, appeared on the program to promote her new book, “Be Fierce: Stop Harassment and Take Your Power Back.”
Indeed, while the issue of sexual harassment is certainly bipartisan, President Trump has taken to Twitter to mock Democratic Senator Al Franken for his own transgressions, while remaining silent on Roy Moore — and of course his own allegations.
Carlson wasted no time pointing out the hypocrisy on Twitter at the time.
What about yours? https://t.co/tBNsl1ROqH
— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) November 17,2017
Also Read: Gretchen Carlson’s Lawyer: Harvey Weinstein Can Be Sued by Employees He Never Targeted
Carlson also swatted back a question by BoldTV co-host Carrie Sheffield about what — if any — redemption could be offered to men who have offended but repented. Carlson said that was not a conversation she was interested in having.
“I don’t think we should have so much discussion about how we rehabilitate the potential predators,” she said. “Why aren’t we discussing about all the thousands and thousands of women who’ve lost their jobs.”
Still, as the list of accusers grows longer seemingly by the day, the question of what to do with all these men will loom large. On Friday’s episode of “Morning Joe,” Mika Brzezinski raised the issue after a guest promised a “generation of fear” for all men.
“What’s the goal? We have a friend of the show who is no longer on his show because of his behavior, which he admits and he apologizes for. Al Franken apologizes,” said Brzezinski. “I’m not being ideological. I’m not siding with anybody. I believe the women, but what are we doing with these apologies?”
“Who’s the judge the jury and the cops in all these cases? Because right now, if the story is big enough and flies enough, the career is over,” she added.
Bill O’Reilly Sexual Harassment Scandal: Complete Timeline of Events (Photos)
“The O’Reilly Factor” host Bill O’Reilly, the most-watched and most profitable personality on cable news, is officially out at Fox News. Here’s everything you need to know about the Fox profit machine’s fall from grace amid sexual harassment scandals. Getty Images
This year, O’Reilly has continued to dominate the ratings, ranking as the No. 1 most-watched cable news host — a position he’s held for more than a decade. Research firm Kantar Media estimated “The O’Reilly Factor” earned $446 million from advertisers between 2014 and 2016. See the 2017 cable rankings here. Fox News
2004: In O’Reilly’s first public run-in with sexual harassment claims, the host settled a lawsuit filed by his former producer, Andrea Mackris, according to a Washington Post report. The payout in the settlement was not disclosed. Fox News
January 2017: The current scandal begins to bubble when the New York Times reports that Fox News and O’Reilly secretly settled a sexual harassment lawsuit in January. Juliet Huddy, a former Fox News employee, alleged that in 2011, O’Reilly tried to derail her career after she turned down sexual advances he made on her. Fox News
April 1,2017: The New York Times reported that O’Reilly and Fox News have settled sexual harassment and verbal abuse claims with five different women aimed at the host over the years. The two settlements mentioned above had been previously reported, but three were unknown. The payouts to women to end their suits total $13 million. Read more here. Getty Images
April 1: In addition to the settlements, two other women allege sexual harassment against O’Reilly. Former Fox host Andrea Tantaros alleged O’Reilly sexually harassed her in a lawsuit against former Fox CEO Roger Ailes. Radio host Wendy Walsh also came forward to allege O’Reilly made sexual advances on her when she was a guest on his show in 2013, and reneged on a promise to get her a job at the network after she rebuffed him. Getty Images
April 4: As the scandal grew, O’Reilly sponsors began to jump ship. Eleven O’Reilly sponsors exit the show, including Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, BMW, GlaxoSmithKline, Allstate, T. Rowe Price and Constant Contact. Read the full story here. Mitsubishi/BMW
April 5: Donald Trump supports O’Reilly, saying the host «shouldn’t have settled.» Trump also said «I don’t think Bill did anything wrong.» Read the rest of the story here. Fox News
April 5: Even more sponsors pulled their support for «The O’Reilly Factor.» The advertisers jumping ship include Lexus, Credit Karma, Bayer, TrueCar, Wayfair, Orkin, Society for Human Resources Management, CFP Board and Coldwell Banker. The total number of sponsors departing the show now totaled at least 20. Read more here. Fox News
April 5: As the scandal heated up, others weighed in, including former Obama speechwriters. Celebrities such as Patton Oswalt and Bette Midler called for O’Reilly’s firing on Twitter. D. L. Hughley wondered if O’Reilly has become a target because of his money, amid a few jokes at his expense. Getty Images
April 6: As more advertisers pulled out of «The O’Reilly Factor,» two sponsors told TheWrap their ads were aired by Fox News against their wishes. Both MyPillow and Crowne Plaza said their ads were aired despite instructions to Fox not to do so. Read more here. Getty Images
April 7: Fox apparently stands behind O’Reilly despite sexual harassment allegations, and women at the network are reportedly “in anguish” that O’Reilly went “unrebuked.” Meanwhile, the number of advertisers who have pulled out from “The O’Reilly Factor” climbed to 60 or more. Read the full story here. Fox News
April 7: Angie’s List, an advertiser that vocally stood by O’Reilly through the scandal, bowed to public boycott pressure and dropped its “Factor” sponsorship. Read the story here. Getty Images
April 8: «Saturday Night Live» took aim at the O’Reilly scandal, while sending up Trump’s support for the host.
