Bill O’Reilly Fires Back at Jake Tapper, Gets a Third-Degree Burn in Return
Tapper Fires Back at O’Reilly Over Ratings Jab
On October 18, 2017, CNN anchor Jake Tapper sharply rebuffed former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly on Twitter after O’Reilly attacked Tapper’s ratings. Tapper responded by referencing O’Reilly’s public ousting following sexual harassment allegations, marking a high-profile clash between the two media personalities.
The digital confrontation began when Bill O’Reilly took to Twitter to criticize his former colleague’s viewership numbers. Writing on the platform, O’Reilly stated, “Sean Hannity kicking serious butt in the ratings. Tapper on CNN as low as you can go.”
Scheduling Realities Ignored in Twitter Attack
Tapper anchors his afternoon broadcast at 4:00 p.m., while Sean Hannity hosts his program during the evening primetime slot at 9:00 p.m. The two programs do not air in direct competition.
Rather than letting the remark pass, Tapper utilized the exchange to highlight the circumstances surrounding O’Reilly’s departure from Fox News earlier that year. Tapper replied, “‘Low’ would be sexually harassing staffers and then getting fired for it — humiliated in front of the world. Now THAT would be low.”
Fox News Ouster and Millions in Settlements
O’Reilly’s departure from Fox News in April 2017 followed a cascade of sexual harassment allegations and revelations that both the network and O’Reilly had paid approximately $13 million to alleged victims to prevent litigation and public disclosure of their claims, according to reports surrounding the ouster.
Despite the exit and subsequent fallout, O’Reilly has consistently sought to re-enter mainstream public discourse. His efforts have included launching an independent web-based television program, maintaining a radio presence, distributing a subscription newsletter, and granting guest interviews, including a September 2017 appearance on the TODAY show where he characterized the allegations against him as “a political and financial hit job.”
Managing Reputational Crises in the Digital Age
Concurrently, O’Reilly has received visible backing on social media from President Donald Trump through retweets amidst a separate wave of sexual misconduct allegations directed at Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. O’Reilly also continued his media appearances on Glenn Beck’s radio show and released a book that reached the top of The New York Times bestseller list, as reported by The Washington Post.