Statement from Carol Jenkins,
President of The Women’s Media Center
We urge you to join The Women’s Media Center in sending an official complaint to Fox News about Bill O’Reilly. His sexist and ageist comments about legendary reporter Helen Thomas require an apology.
On last night’s show (February 9th, 2009) O’Reilly compared Ms. Thomas to “the Wicked Witch of the East” along with disparaging remarks about her appearance and age. You can view an excerpt here. Guest Bernard Goldberg added his own insult, and even Alan Colmes, while attempting to defend her, seemed to be having too much fun. This kind of verbal degradation in the guise of humor is unacceptable, and as Media Matters has documented, it’s part of an on-going pattern where he’s targeted Thomas.
It was an attack no woman deserves—including this accomplished, award winning journalist working in the White House press corps, where women are underrepresented. The Women’s Media Center demonstrated in its Sexism Sells But We’re Not Buying It viral campaign that sexist remarks went unchecked by networks during the primary season. Now, as then, the WMC demands accountability.
An immediate public apology is required.
Click here to join the WMC in demanding an apology from O’Reilly for insulting legendary reporter Helen Thomas.
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53 Comments
Maybe Bill O’Reilly is the one who needs to find something else to do. There is no way they’d say these kind of demeaning things about a 40-year veteran reporter that had a penis.
I think your effort to seek an apology is noble but in all honesty, does Bill O’Reilly ever, ever apologize to anybody he insults? I”ve never heard one. And besides, it just draws more attention to him and everyone at FOX news where such behavior is the norm. You know what they say, there’s no such thing as bad publicity, and that’s exactly what he thrives on. I say ignore him completely. He won’t thrive on that!
Bill O’Reilly Abuses Nations Grandmother
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Now there’s a headline. The man is so rude and uncooth. I hope Miss Helen takes him behind the shed, boxes his ears, and washes his dirty little mouth out with some high-test lye soap.
These people have become a national disgrace! O’Rielly should be taken off the air once and for all.
Helen Thomas has been a respected member of the press for decades and demands respect.
O’Reilly has not one speck of respect in his body. He should be fired and never heard of again!
Bill O’Reilly should not be allowed to remain on the air to spew his always hateful comments. His negativism and disrespectful ways seem to be the FOX way, but we must speak out against him. He’s old enough to know better. It’s too bad he doesn’t act his age. Let’s not let him get away it. Let’s agitate, agitate, agitate until we get an apology to Ms. Helen Thomas.
Has Bill O’Reilly taken a good look at himself in the mirror recently – he looks his age – surprising isn’t it? So does Helen Thomas look her age – it’s part of the process called aging. However, folks like Bill think they have the right to shoot off their mouth not remembering that they too are long in the tooth.
Kathleen Barry
Santa Barbara, California
I have to believe that his mother did not raise him with such unpleasant and crass standards. Sometimes you just can’t teach good manners or keep a person from expressing their base instincts.
2009 and we still have deal with a plethora of misogynists.
Our “Foremothers”, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Alice Paul and others would be appalled that in the several lifetimes that have past since their own lives, women are still degraded. Including in “civilized” countries on the media, e.g. Fox News.
Shame on Fox News, Bill O’Reilly and other man who thinks it’s okay to treat women as anything less than equals!
It’s no surprise that Bozo’Reilly would feel the need to disparage a real journalist with actual dignity.
We request that all people using public airways speak in a courteous manner- even with people we disagree with.
I think we need to do more to honor our women who are spectacular, I don’t watch Bill, so did not see his comments.
I think Gov. Blodojevich put it well when he said celebrities of all kinds are subject to disrespect and mean spirited jokes, and you just have to tough up.
I am sure over the years Ms. Harris has gotten her share of the evil side of journalism and media, and is tough.
However I am sure she would like to be honored. I wonder if anyone has asked Barbara Walters to do a special on her?
She certainly must have some stories worth listening to in her own voice and with her own interpretations.
What you don’t acknowledge is that the male presenters were not simply ridiculing Thomas for the sake of it or in any way because she is female, but they were expressing genuine criticisms of her questions and performance in a press conference. A degree of humor was appropriate in the chat-show format. Where was the sexism?
I’m sure you wouldn’t show the same indignant response if a female presenter spoke humorously about a male journalist whom she saw as asking inane questions and becoming an embarrassment to his profession. Even if she compared him to “the scary ogre of the East”, joked about him moving forward in his zimmer frame, and parodied him by talking in a deep voice.
The WMC seems to be trying to enforce new, self-created feminist commandments: “thou shalt never criticize any woman” and “all humor used by males must conform to WMC preferences” and “feminist preferences override all other rights such as freedom of expression”. Therein lies the real sexism.
thank you so much for starting this campaign. This is so disheartening to hear this kind of mean spirited stuff-about anybody-let alone of someone with her stature. thanks again
My mother is 83 years old, worked for the UN, was a journalist all her life and is still writing today. I grew up with women who struggled in their careers as writers, editors and journalists with women’s rights issues and Helen Thomas has always been a heroine to me. I won’t say what I personally think about Bill O’Reilly but I will say this–he doesn’t have anywhere near the hutzpah that Helen Thomas, my mother and all her colleagues have and he would cry like a little baby if he had to go through what these women have gone through! He is not a journalist, he’s just an infotainment provider and hardly a professional.
As usual, Bill O’Reilly is not adding to the positivity or productivity of this country. Instead, he shows his immaturity by degrading and mocking an historical White House media figure and a lady at that. O’Reilly could only dream of being that distinguished by the time he reaches Ms. Thomas’s age.
I really wish that in 2009, we had evolved enough as a species that sub-human, unfeeling creatures like “Billo the Clown” , as Keith Olberman has so aptly named him, did not exist, or if they did, were not taken seriously enough that they were given a national forum on “Fake News”, but alas, it is not so. Therefore, it is with a weary heart that I join my sisters at the Womens Media Center in my condemnation of O’Reilly’s reprehensible nature as continually demonstrated by in bizarre and hateful conduct. Therefore, I demand a public apology from Bill O’Reilly.
And Bill, just remember, beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes straight to the bone. Morever, “God don’t like Ugly.” And you, sir, are an ugly man in every sense of the word.
Her question is certainly not the most ridiculous or “out of touch” ever asked. Along with his anti-feminist and “ageist” self-righteous condemnations is his omnipresent aura of being more intelligent than his viewers, other “commentators” (he ‘graduated” from infotainment), and now proven, seasoned journalists who certainly never gained fame from his now-famous cursing, churlish “Rant” – much less his hypocritical claims/attempts to sent out his secret “gestapo forces” to “get people” who oppose him or whom he objects to. How can anyone be taken seriously who admits to a sex scandal and unimaginably must have terrorized and threatened Andrea to agree to lifetime silence for a very paltry “hush money” amount?? And how serious can anyone take him as an intellectual when he annually takes upon himself the role of “Emissary of Jesus” to “save Christmas” and reports his successes yearly as though they are documented success measures? He even sincerely believes it his role to preserve and represent the “Easter Bunny,” who/which in Denver one year was unimaginably called the “Spring Bunny.” He undermines whatever intellect he may have by his nightly denigration of “the folks” whom he pretends to care about and represent. He truly is the embodiment of FOX News. It is truly unfortunate that years ago Greta Van Sustern was treated badly by CNN and is now just about the only sensible – much less truly talented – journalist at FOX. What a joke almost all the rest of them are!!! – especially the comical, self-righteous Bill-O!!
Please don’t stop drawing attention on that misogynist. Don’t stop otherwise he and others like him will be emboldened and they will continue broadcasting the same filth amongst themselves.
Take it from a guy: he either comes out scorched from this experience or he will be emboldened.
Billo defense that WMC didn’t defend Sarah Palin is wrong and only serves to misdirect the discussion: the satire about Sarah Palin was about her ideas(ie:she has foreign affair experience bcz she sees Russia from Alaska;small towns grow good people) and Tina Fey repeatedy almost word for word Sarah Palin’s answers to Katie Couric’s interview. Tina Fey imitating Sarah Palin’s demeanor is not wrong.
I’m a young guy but i think Bill O’Reilly trying to imitate Helen Thomas’ mannerisms or voice is not offensive(makes him look dumb); but it’s his likening of Helen Thomas with a witch that’s insulting and Bill O’Reilly will do anything to distract ppl from this fact
one thing i hate is the defense these conservatives take by making up a scenario in their head and affirming that they know the answer to fictional circumstances.( ie:Hans Laven comment# 12). what? Hans? you’re sure that if everything you just made up were to happen the results would be exactly what is in your mind? you should get some brain.
It is high time Billo the disrespectful insulting clown dissappears.Helen Thomas remains such a savvy journalist did Billo not realize Helen was leading The President to say what we all knew he would not.How insightful it really was to see our new President act in such a dismissive fashion but Billo took disrespect to a newre lower level retire NOW Billo!!
The only REALLY good thing Fox News has done in recent years was their coverage of the Katrina aftermath. I admit to bouncing back and forth between news stations, but Fox News will be bounced out of my viewing list after their insult to Helen Thomas. TOTALLY UNNECESSARY, INCORRECT, RUDE, AND RIDICULOUS.
I saw your representative on O’Reilly last night. Cudos for er courage for going on the program, but she was clearly ill prepared for the most obvious question, Why didnt your group object to all the stuff the media thrown out about Palin .Calling her stupid, ignorant, not really a woman etc.Gloria Steinam’s criticisms of Sarah was far worse than what Bill Oreilly did
The choice to be critical of any woman’s professional performance by making a comparison to a witch is classic sexism. It attempts to demean the professional’s work not by making fun of her performance but by marginalizing her by comparing her to a classic stereotype of a powerful woman -an ugly old witch with a squeaky voice. Another classic stereotype used to demean woman is calling a strong woman a “bitch” reducing her to a barking dog. Woman have such strength in numbers but are so much less willing to fight even the the most obvious sexism than other groups who have united to make attacks on them unacceptable. Let’s face it if Imus called the Rutgers basketball team just “ho s” or bimbos he would have gotten away with it – it was only because he used the words “nappy headed” that he properly was held accountable – if we as women,joined by men who respect the civil rights of all, want to end the constant barrage of sexist remarks in the media we have to let our voices be heard
How long is this Neanderthal going to be allowed to poison the air waves with his toxic, untrue comments? He needs to be GONE!
The sad, sad thing is there are many people who enjoy this sort of thing. My town is full of shallow people . How do we protest against them? They just don’t get it..
A person who has been an outstanding journalist for many years deserves the respect of not only her peers, but the entire public, for wonderful job she has done. Obviously, Mr. O’Reilly wouldn’t understand, since he most certainly is no journalist.
Can you believe he would dare evoke his Mom with his venom. I can only imagine if it were my Mom she would have came back from the grave to bop me upside my head for such disrespect of a accomplished journalist as Helen Thomas. Can Bill O’Reily point to anything he has done that we put him anywhere near her legacy. And her question is very relavent if we are going to send people to die there. How stupid can you get?
Yesterday I sent an e-mail to Helen Thomas praising her for all she has brought to journalism.
I also had a few choice words about what I and millions of other think of the misogynistic blow hard B.O.
Mr. O’really is quite a case. I fear we won’t get an apology, but who knows. Helen is one of our most valued journalists and deserves far better treatment. I want to encourage her and other professional journalists to keep asking the hard questions.
My favorite image of Bill O’Reilly is his back side disappearing over the horizon……..yet to happen.
But the sad truth is that there is another waiting
in the wings to grab his post. This is not to say
that our cause is a waste – far from it. To say
nothing is to approve of his inhuman prejudices.
I have chosen to watch Bill O’Riley since his days at Inside Edition,and have often times disagreed with his coomments and judjmental,disrespectful of others opinions,but this is really over the top.Along with Helen Thomas was his opinion that the children of the lady who gave birth to eight more children should be taken from her. Mr. O’Riley is not God,and I will never,never watch his program ever again.Thank You for this opportunity to reach out and be counted in your numbers.
O’Reilly said he sent her flowers. When men send flowers after doing something wrong–that’s an apology. So even if he won’t utter the words–as we know–actions speak louder than words!
The number one rule that always applies is that when you find yourself in a deep hole..one should sease digging. Bill O’Reilley totally ignored that advice when he attempted to intimidate the representative from your organization the other night. What a coward He tried to use the “just joking” defense during his sexual harassment issue a few years back. It didn’t work then nor does it work now. Bill O’Reilley is a complete coward & wimp.
My boycott of all things Fox begins today. As much as it breaks my heart, goodbye Judge Judy.
You know Bill,for a guy occupying a supposed “no spin zone” I find it curious that all your ignorant, cowardly attacks are consistently aimed squarely at people like Helen who,unlike you and your spineless friends at FOX,had the courage to stand up to that war criminal of a “President” whose boots you licked for 8 years.Why don’t you drop the “independent” act and simply admit you are a card carrying hard right wing republican,and stop wasting everyone’s time?Just admit you are an attention seeking “shock jock” who insults to boost ratings.
Bill O’Reilly is a mean-spirited and small-minded man who will be forgotten the minute he leaves Rupert Murdock’s employ. Helen Thomas is a giant in journalism and an iconic woman who will be remembered by all who of us who owe her an enormous debt of gratitude for her professional courage, honest and pioneering work, and endless kindness to those who followed as she broke trail for dedicated journalists of both genders. Bill who????.
Mr O’Reilly attack Helen Thomas no only because he is sexist, but because he wants to attack everything that he thinks she represents.Remember when Helen Thomas was practically banned from the Bush press room?Well rigth wingers now are soo bitter that they can’t handle nobody that may have tha smallest sympathy for this administration.I’m sure that one day that press conference room will be named after Helen Thomas.Maria WI
Only on Fox can this type of 19th Century anti-woman rubbish be aired! In disrespecting Ms Thomas, they disrespect themselves. They are little boys who fail to grow up and are the same little boys that as a group enjoy bullying others, get them on their own and the whince and whinge about ‘how un fair the world is to them’..GROW UP and do your overpaid jobs boys with some element of DIGNITY and RESPECT….
Of course, many of the replies here contain vicious abuse at O’Reilly, stooping to comments about his personal character and extending to denigration of men in general. I failed to see sexism in O’Reilly’s comments, but the anti-male sexism shown by many complaining at him is obvious, plentiful and much more violent than anything O’Reilly said. Feminist ideology seems to care as little about integrity as it does about free speech, as long as women’s interests are served.
I had to wonder, who is this BIll O’Reilly? Perhaps in an Amero-centric world he’s some big fish, and I remember hearing about him on other TV shows, for stupid things he’s done, but really, he’s merely a national cable show reporter for a country whose population is not that big. I think there are more dangerous figured, in terms of the dignity of individuals from all perspectives, worth going after. I can’t see how Bill is more than a footnote.
Isn’t this the same guy who stalked a female intern of his? Maybe he would like Helen more, if she found him attractive. However, every time he opens his mouth he makes this impossible.
This man (I use this term loosely) makes his very lucrative living by employing hot air to voice his little-researched opinions. I suggest we all just ignore him, and like a bad odor, he will go away. I have taught 2nd graders who behaved better, and deserved more respect than this so called “role model”.
We are now in the 21st century, and when I hear him speak, it seems we have not evolved very far at all in terms of responsible journalism, news reporting and political commentary. I pity him for his ignorance, and dread how his childish behavior warps the journalistic morals of those to come.
Bill O’Reilly is an opinionated bully NOT a journalist nor a news reporter. He would not treat an 88 year old legend in the same manner IF it was a male legend. Helen Thomas is a legend and a leader. She is a professional in her career. O’Reilly is nothing.
If any other man said something like that to HIS daughter, he’d hit the roof! Not to mention if she is ever subjected to workplace sexual harassment.
I have to wonder why people continue to even talk about this hack. He gets more publicity by ranting and raving so he continues to do it. The Republican party is the party of the angry White Christian male and O’Reilly and Limbaugh are their mouthpieces. He should apologize, I guess, but at the end of the day he really doesn’t mean it so why go through the rhetoric. We all know he’s a blowhard talking head who has nothing better to do. He and Joe the Plumber should join the Reserves and learn what real women and men do for a living.
Helen Thomas serves an honorable function in our society. Bill O’Reilly serves no one but himself.
I agree with the writers who said O’Reilly thrives on publicity and that writing to demand an apology though noble is exactly the kind of controversy he thrives on. He hates women and likely relishes knowing how much his comments anger feminists.
That said I sent him a letter anyway. The rest of the time I ignore haters like him. Being ignored is what he fears the most.
The smartests thing to do is.
1. honor Helen with an on air retrospective including documentary style footage and an interview with a respected broadcast journalist. How about Maria Shriver or Christiane Amanpour?
2. Helen could consider inviting O’Reilly to a one on one discussion regarding these comments.
3. How about giving Helen the Minerva award at the annual California Women’s Conference.
4 Start an “Ignore Bill O’Reilly” campaign. He won’t apologize and even if he does, it won’t mean anything. Put the effort into emphasizing Helen and her accomplishments.
5. Remember, “The only thing worse than being talked about, is not being talked about”. Ignore Bill, boycott his show and website, it will drive him crazy.
I think O”Reilly is a sexist jerk. I also wonder what he would think “if” someone spoke of his daughter this way, even now as a 9 yr old. He should be made to make a public apology, however I am “not” sure it would really be sincere. Since he was told to do so..He sure won’t apologize unless he is told by the station. I wonder how he manages to work with women if his hate for us is so great..He is a disgrace to the good men out there. He is what gives them a bad reputation too…Shame on you Bill O’Reilly. I also am not sure the word Mr. Bill O’Reilly is appropriate either, just plain old Bill, because he is “NO” Mr. Gentleman..
The WMC might ask itself why they keep quiet about the personal attacks on sarah palin by left wingers before the expect any sympathy for their hand-picked woman’s causes.
For the record, I oppose any personal attacks on anyone including Helen Thomas – even though by her own admission she is a liberal biased journalist.
You all speak of the comment made by Bill on Helen Thomas, but nothing of how he defend Ashely Biden and her alleged drug act caught on tape. Furthermore, where was the WMC during the ‘08 elections when Sarah Palin was being attacked nonstop? The left wing media went after her politics, her looks, who she is, and her children. The WMC said nothing. Bill O’Reilly comments on a woman’s voice who happens to be a biased reporter, and you all go nuts. If one woman is not as equal to another because she is Conservative, then you all are just hypocrites. If you all want to stop misogamy you need to defend all women and not just Liberal women. I agree with Ray, all personal attacks are wrong and these attacks perpetuate what you all claim to fight against.
Okay yet again where were YOU all for Sarah Palin and LETTERMAN???
I am completely against Bill O’Reilly when it comes to the way he uses his words so insensitively. He is not a professional, in my opinion. His show needs to be canceled. Helen Thomas is getting treated poorly for her very valid opinion.