In a shocking reversal of fortune for one of the most prominent voices in TV news, Bill O'Reilly has been ousted from Fox News Channel amid the firestorm over sexual harassment allegations levelled against the host in recent years.
Parent company 21st Century Fox said on Wednesday: "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."
The decision to turn O'Reilly loose appears to have been made between Tuesday and Wednesday by the Murdochs, the family who control the operations of Fox News parent 21st Century Fox.
O'Reilly has been off the air since last Wednesday, part of what was billed a planned vacation around the Easter holiday.
He had initially planned to return to his The O'Reilly Factor show on April 24, but as outrage mounted and new allegations of inappropriate behaviour surfaced, it became clear the company could no longer afford to back the star who helped bring Fox News to prominence nearly 20 years ago.
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O'Reilly has been enmeshed in controversy since the start of this month after The New York Times reported five women were paid about $US13 million ($A17 million) in exchange for agreeing not to pursue litigation or speak about the accusations.
O'Reilly has denied the allegations and said he entered into settlements to spare his family.
O'Reilly's attorney said on Tuesday that the host was the target of a "smear campaign" funded by far-left advocacy groups.
As the controversy snowballed dozens of advertisers yanked their commercials from his program.
