Fox News extended host Bill O’Reilly’s contract for $100 million over four years shortly after he reached a $32 million agreement to settle claims of sexual harassment from a former network employee, The New York Times reported Saturday. Fox granted O’Reilly the new contract last February after booting chairman Roger Ailes just seven months earlier in wake of multiple sexual harassment accusations against him. The contract was signed even though executives at 21st Century Fox were aware of complaints against O’Reilly by Fox News legal analyst Lis Wiehl, the Times reported. O’Reilly’s four-year contract extension paid $25 million a year, according to the newspaper. O’Reilly blasted the article Saturday as “another smear.” He insisted he “never mistreated anyone,” and said he made the payout to protect his children.

Source: Huffington Post October 22, 2017 01:30 UTC