Big mouth shut

Bill O'Reilly on Roger Ailes: 'For once in my life I'm going to keep my big mouth shut'

By Alex Weprin

Fox News host Bill O'Reilly said that his former boss, ex-Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, was the "best boss I ever had," even as he largely refrained from commenting on his departure in the wake of sexual harassment allegations.

O'Reilly, appearing on NBC's "Today" show to promote his new book "Killing the Rising Sun," was asked by co-anchor Savannah Guthrie about Ailes' departure from the channel, and Gretchen Carlson's sexual harassment claims.

“I don’t know anything about the case, nothing,” O’Reilly said. “So, he was a great boss. Best boss I ever had, and that’s what I said to [NBC late night host] Seth Meyers, that’s all I’ve said. And I’m not going to say anything else because I work for this company. And I don’t really have any insight into anything. So for once in my life, I’m going to keep my big mouth shut.”

O'Reilly was also asked whether he has noticed a change in the atmosphere or programming at the Fox News offices. "We do the exact same thing, there has been no change, we do what we do," he replied.

Asked whether he still speaks to Ailes, O'Reilly responded:

"Roger Ailes was very good to me, and I feel very bad for his family."