Geraldo Rivera Regrets Defending Accused Sexual Harasser Roger Ailes

Geraldo Rivera on August 24, 2012 in New York City Image by Getty Images

By Thea Glassman September 9, 2016

Geraldo Rivera said he is “filled with regret” over his support of Fox News chairman Roger Ailes, who resigned in July over sexual harassment allegations.

Rivera, a long-time employee of Fox News, took to Facebook last night to pen a lengthy apology note.

“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,” his message begins. “And if they are true, then his shame and banishment are well earned.”

The talk show host had initially taken to Twitter to refute allegations of sexual harassment in July, telling users not to “believe the crap about Roger Ailes,” who, he deemed, was as “flirty as the grizzly in “The Revenant.”

I’ve known him 40 years. He’s about as flirty as the grizzly in #TheRevenant. I stand with Roger Ailes

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) July 13, 2016

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

— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) July 19, 2016

The news anchor was responding to claims from Gretchen Carlson, a former Fox anchor, who filed a sexual harassment suit against Ailes in July. By August, at least 20 women had stepped forward to say they had been sexually harassed by Ailes, including Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly.

Rivera asserted in his Facebook post that while the newsroom can be a “flirty business,” it is essential that management “keep the playing field level, professional and fair.”

“The news business will no longer tolerate boorish conduct by anyone, however powerful,” he wrote.

Thea Glassman is a Multimedia Fellow at the Forward. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter at @theakglassman.

Thea Glassman was an associate editor for the Forward. Follow her on twitter @theakglassman.

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