Geraldo Rivera has apologized to Bette Midler and other women named in his “tawdry” memoir, saying he is “embarrassed and profoundly sorry to those mentioned.”
Rivera tweeted, “27 years ago I wrote a tawdry book depicting consensual events in 1973-45 years ago – I’ve deeply regretted its distasteful & disrespectful tone & have refrained from speaking about it-I’m embarrassed & profoundly sorry to those mentioned – I have & again apologize to anyone offended.”
On Thursday, Midler demanded an apology from the Fox News contributor after a video re-surfaced of the veteran singer and actress telling Barbara Walters in 1991 that Rivera and a producer “groped” and drugged her in a bathroom in the 1970s.
However, in his tweets on Friday morning, Rivera pointed out that, “Although I recall the time Bette Midler has alluded to much differently than she, that does not change the fact that she has a right to speak out & demand an apology from me, for in the very least, publically [sic] embarrassing her all those years ago,” he said. “Bette, I apologize.”
Rivera has also been criticized lately for his defense of Matt Lauer, calling news a “flirty business.”
The post prompted a storm of criticism against Rivera, leading him to issue a lengthy series of tweeted clarifications. The tweet unnerved Rivera’s employers at Fox News so much that they felt compelled to issue a statement distancing themselves from the host.
“Geraldo’s tweets do not reflect the views of Fox News or its management. We were troubled by his comments and are addressing them with him,” said a network representative.
Rivera later apologized for his comments that appeared to minimize the problem of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace.
See his tweets below.
27 years ago I wrote a tawdry book depicting consensual events in 1973-45 years ago-I’ve deeply regretted its distasteful & disrespectful tone & have refrained from speaking about it-I’m embarrassed & profoundly sorry to those mentioned-I have & again apologize to anyone offended
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) December 1, 2017
Although I recall the time @BetteMidler has alluded to much differently than she, that does not change the fact that she has a right to speak out & demand an apology from me, for in the very least, publically embarrassing her all those years ago. Bette, I apologize.
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) December 1, 2017