Eric Bolling sacked: Fox News dumps another host over sexual misconduct claims
Prime-time star Bill O’Reilly also lost his job this spring after reports that the network had paid millions of dollars to settle harassment claims against him
Fox News Channel said on Friday it has parted ways with host Eric Bolling, who had been suspended last month following allegations that he sent lewd photos to female colleagues.
Fox is also cancelling the programme Bolling hosted, The Specialists. Meanwhile, Fox Business Network is reinstating Charles Payne, a host who had been suspended while the network had investigated charges of sexual misconduct.
Bolling had been working at Fox for 10 years and had been considered a rising star, one of its more vociferous supporters of US President Donald Trump. He had the lead role on The Specialists, which aired at 5pm.
Fox said in a statement that the network and Bolling had agreed to part ways amicably. The network has been dogged by sexual misconduct allegations since its late founder, Roger Ailes, left the network following harassment charges in July 2016. Prime-time star Bill O’Reilly also lost his job this spring after reports that the network had paid millions of dollars to settle harassment claims against him.
Bolling’s lawyer, Michael Bowe, said he did not have a comment beyond Fox’s statement.
Bolling had filed notice of an intent to file a defamation lawsuit against Yashar Ali, the Huffington Post reporter who had written about the lewd pictures, and Bowe said Friday’s action did not affect that case.