Tapper fires – Bill O’Reilly attacked Jake Tapper on Twitter over CNN ratings on October 18, 2017. Tapper responded with a sharp comparison, recalling O’Reilly’s removal from Fox News after sexual-harassment allegations and a reported $13 million settlement tied to claims of
Bill O’Reilly’s latest Twitter swipe at CNN’s Jake Tapper landed with a quick, pointed comeback.
On October 18, 2017, O’Reilly tweeted: “Sean Hannity kicking serious butt in the ratings. Tapper on CNN as low as you can go.” The jab came as Tapper’s show airs at 4 p.m., while Hannity’s airs at 9 p.m.—a timing difference that means the two programs are not in direct competition.
Tapper answered almost immediately. turning the conversation from ratings to what he described as “low.” In a tweet that began: “‘Low’ would be sexually harassing staffers and then getting fired for it — humiliated in front of the world.. Now THAT would be low.” He framed that as the real measure of going “low. ” contrasting it with O’Reilly’s attempt to belittle him on television performance.
O’Reilly’s standing has been shaped by his own fallout.. In April. he was ousted from Fox News after a string of sexual-harassment allegations and news that the network and O’Reilly had “shelled out as much as $13 million” to alleged victims “in exchange for agreeing to not pursue litigation or speak about their accusations against him.” That departure did not end O’Reilly’s insistence that he remains a figure worth watching in broader media conversation.. He has continued to pursue a spotlight through a home-brewed. web-based TV show. ongoing radio presence. a “rather dodgy” newsletter. Twitter commentary. and appearances as an on-air guest.
He has also said his removal was “a political and financial hit job.” Adding to the storyline. he received retweets from President Donald Trump on Twitter—an exchange that came as a series of sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was circulating.. O’Reilly also appears weekly on Glenn Beck’s radio show and released a new book last month. which is now atop The New York Times bestseller list. a detail highlighted in coverage that followed the release.
The sequence has been stark: O’Reilly attacked Tapper’s ratings on October 18, and Tapper returned with a direct reminder of O’Reilly’s own downfall after sexual-harassment allegations and a reported $13 million settlement, tying the “low” argument back to that public outcome.
For now, O’Reilly keeps pushing back into mainstream attention through tweets, media appearances, and new projects—while Tapper’s response ensures the debate stays personal, and the bar for “low” is set to O’Reilly’s past.
United States politics Fox News CNN Jake Tapper Bill O’Reilly Donald Trump Harvey Weinstein Twitter sexual harassment allegations settlement