Conservative commentator Glenn Beck has warned that the "end is coming" for Fox News in the wake of Bill O'Reilly's ousting from the network following a series of sexual harassment allegations against him.
"You better stand up now and figure out what's really happening with this O'Reilly thing or you're gonna lose Fox News," Beck told viewers of the channel during Wednesday's episode of The Glenn Beck Radio Program.
Just before Fox News' parent company 21st Century Fox announced O'Reilly won't be returning to the network, TheBlaze founder predicted The O'Reilly Factor host was likely in his final 24 hours at the channel.
Beck added that, with former chairman Roger Ailes gone from the company amid sexual harassment allegations of his own, Rupert Murdoch wouldn't be able to stop his sons, Lachlan and James, from ending the channel.
"Roger is now gone, Rupert's children are now playing a big role in the future of Fox. That's not going to bode well," Beck said. "Those two things mean the end of the conservative Fox as we know it or have known it. The end is coming. The days are numbered."
The New York Times reports that O'Reilly and his employers came under fire after it was revealed that five women - all of whom have either worked with O'Reilly or appeared on his show - were paid $13 million by Fox News for agreeing to not file lawsuits or speak publicly about allegations that he harassed them. The settlements all took place between 2002 and 2016, alleges the Times.
In a short period of time, over 50 advertisers dropped his show, and women's rights groups had called for him to be fired.
Murdoch and his sons made the decision after reviewing the results of an internal investigation that found that multiple women had reported inappropriate behavior by O'Reilly, who had hosted the O'Reilly Factor since 1996.
"After a thorough and careful review of the allegations, the company and Bill O'Reilly have agreed that Bill O'Reilly will not be returning to the Fox News Channel," 21st Century Fox said in a statement.
In a statement, O'Reilly, who will reportedly receive a payout of $25 million, reaffirmed his innocence and said it was "tremendously disheartening" that he and Fox News were forced to "part ways due to completely unfounded claims."
"But that is the unfortunate reality many of us in the public eye must live with today," he said. "I will always look back on my time at Fox with great pride in the unprecedented success we achieved and with my deepest gratitude to all my dedicated viewers. I wish only the best for Fox News Channel."
