Someone has to tell the men at Fox News that it’s really easy NOT to sexually harass your co-workers.
Like, really, incredibly, very, very, very easy.
Apparently this memo has not been circulated around the network’s office, however, because long-time host Eric Bolling is the latest employee to be accused of sexual misconduct.
Fox News has suspended Bolling amidst accusations that he sent unsolicited, X-rated photos to at least a pair of colleagues and one Fox Business Network staffer several years ago.
In short, based on reporting by The Huffington Post, Bolling allegedly sent these women pictures of his penis.
These three women have not been named, but they were included among the 14 sources that spoke to the aforementioned publication about Bolling’s actions.
Fox News has hired the law firm Paul Weiss to oversee its own investigation into what happened and it has released the following statement in light of these serious allegations:
“Eric Bolling has been suspended pending the results of an investigation, which is currently underway.”
Pretty short, simple and uninformative.
According to The Huffington Post, Bolling sent these unwanted images on separate occasions and the women knew they came from his cell phone because they recognized his number.
One woman says she texted Bolling back to never contact her again in such a manner, and he never replied.
Bolling is a former commodities trader who has worked at the Fox News and Fox Business networks since 2007.
He joined the network after a stint at CNBC.
In September of 2014, during a discussion on the program The Five, Bolling stirred up controversy when talking about the first female fighter pilot from the United Arab Emirates leading the bombing of the Islamic State.
On air, Bolling asked if instead of saying “boots on the ground.” it might be more appropriate to say “boobs on the ground.”
He apologized the next day for the immature and unprofessional remark, citing “a look” he received from his wife after he arrived home.
Bolling has filled in on occasions in the past for Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity, while he was serving as a co-host on The Specialists at the time of his suspension.
In response to these penis picture allegations, a lawyer for Bolling has said the following:
Mr. Bolling recalls no such inappropriate communications, does not believe he sent any such communications, and will vigorously pursue his legal remedies for any false and defamatory accusations that are made.
That’s a pretty hilarious and transparent statement.
Notice that Bolling does not flatly deny sending these images at any point.
His attorney is careful to use language such as how he doesn’t “recall” doing so and doesn’t “believe” this happened.
You may interpret such word parsing however you see fit.
The accusations against Bolling come fewer than four months after Fox News mainstay O’Reilly was fired following a number of sexual harassment lawsuits.
And his exit followed the July 2016 resignation of Fox Corp. CEO Roger Ailes, who was accused of sexual harassment by ex-Fox and Friends anchor Gretchen Carlson.
(Megyn Kelly made similar accusations against Ailes last year.)
Carlson’s former co-host, Steve Doocy, has also been accused of sexist, inappropriate behavior in the work place.
At this point, it may be easier to list male Fox News employees who have NOT been accused of sexual harassment than to rundown all who have been.