Geraldo Rivera on August 24, 2012 in New York City Image by Getty Images

By Thea Glassman September 9, 2016

Geraldo Rivera said he is “filled with regret” over his support of Fox News chairman Roger Ailes, who resigned in July over sexual harassment allegations.

Rivera, a long-time employee of Fox News, took to Facebook last night to pen a lengthy apology note.

“The man we knew as the blustering genius who invented our mighty Fox News Channel is a deceitful, selfish misogynist, if the charges against him are true,” his message begins. “And if they are true, then his shame and banishment are well earned.”

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

The talk show host had initially taken to Twitter to refute allegations of sexual harassment in July, telling users not to “believe the crap about Roger Ailes,” who, he deemed, was as “flirty as the grizzly in “The Revenant.”

The news anchor was responding to claims from Gretchen Carlson, a former Fox anchor, who filed a sexual harassment suit against Ailes in July. By August, at least 20 women had stepped forward to say they had been sexually harassed by Ailes, including Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly.

Rivera asserted in his Facebook post that while the newsroom can be a “flirty business,” it is essential that management “keep the playing field level, professional and fair.”

“The news business will no longer tolerate boorish conduct by anyone, however powerful,” he wrote.

Thea Glassman is a Multimedia Fellow at the Forward. Reach her at glassman@forward.com or on Twitter at @theakglassman.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount