On the day after Andrea Tantaros accused Bill O’Reilly of sexually harassing her, O’Reilly announced he had suddenly decided to take “a few days resting up.” This, after he had just returned from a nearly two-week vacation.
On August 22, former Fox host Andrea Tantaros filed a lawsuit against Fox News and several top executives. Although he was not named as a defendant, Tantaros alleged that he had sexually harassed her.
The next evening, O’Reilly announced he was taking some time off. Even though he had only recently returned from a nearly two-week vacation.
What was even stranger was that O’Reilly spent about 40 seconds explaining his decision. I can’t recall O’Reilly ever spending more than a few seconds announcing he’d be taking time off. But here’s what seemed to me like an over-explanation from him this time:
O'REILLY: Now, excellent weather here in the northeast so I am going to take a few days resting up for the brutal campaign that’ll ramp up in September and October. I’m gonna be working around the clock on that. We will be on it with our special brand of analysis and no-spin facts, no endorsements here. You know, favoritism only comes when issues are stronger on each side. That’s the only time.
So, I will miss you guys for a few days. Again, thanks for watching us tonight.
Notice that O’Reilly didn’t say when he’d be back?
It reminded me of Megyn Kelly’s sudden decision, also over-explained, to take a vacation after she came under attack from Donald Trump over her debate questions.
What do you think? Watch it below, from the August 23 The O’Reilly Factor, and share your thoughts in our comments section. The vacation announcement starts at about 35:00.
Correction: This post originally said Tantaros filed her lawsuit on August 23.