Bill O'Reilly was fired from Fox News and this is the internet's go-to joke
Someone else will be sitting behind his desk when Bill O'Reilly, the long-time host of Fox News' prime-time cash cow The O'Reilly Factor, returns from "vacation" next week.
On Wednesday, 21st Century Fox announced that the longtime conservative talk show host would not return to the network after advertisers dropped the show in droves following multiple allegations of sexual harassment against him. Naturally, that caused everyone online to make the same joke and probably made O'Reilly wish he could go back in time and name the show something else.
SEE ALSO: Bill O'Reilly is finally out at Fox News, but hold off on your victory dance
Once news of the host's departure was made public, the internet was quick to revel in schadenfreude, as O'Reilly had become synonymous with Fox News over the last twenty years and no one could figure out how so many women's complaints had been repeatedly ignored at the network. (Especially after the network's former chairman, Roger Ailes, was forced out under somewhat similar circumstances less than a year ago amid promises from Fox News that it was definitely committed to doing better.)
So of course everyone online quickly figured out the perfect pun to celebrate O'Reilly's departure and went for it.
Papa Bear Bill O'Reilly will no longer be a factor at @FoxNews.
— Gabriel J Sanchez (@gabejsanchez) April 19, 2017
And now, O'Reilly no longer a Factor. Make way for a week-long festival of gloating, folks. pic.twitter.com/GxWqPkKTs3
— Farran Nehme (@selfstyledsiren) April 19, 2017
YAY! Finally...let's CELEBRATE! This is a good day for women & ppl of color! #EndRapeCulture #FightBigotry O'Reilly is no longer a FACTOR! https://t.co/VKrc1k1Vo4
— Jeniffer G (@MBKStrategies) April 19, 2017
O'Reilly No Longer a Factor
youre welcome— Matthew Bambach (@mpbambach) April 19, 2017
More like the O'Reilly No Longer a Factor AMIRITE?
— NOLAnerdcast (@NOLAnerdcast) April 19, 2017
I'd say O'Reilly is no longer... a factor. pic.twitter.com/for9XVEkO8
— Kwam The Copywriter (@KwamWrites) April 19, 2017
I guess you could say BILL O'REILLY is no longer a FACTOR at FOX News....
— Robert Hilburn (@roberthilburn) April 19, 2017
So much for the Life of O'Reilly. No longer a factor. Buh-bye @oreillyfactor #foxnolongerinthehenhouse #longvacation
— Addison Ore (@addyore) April 19, 2017
Earlier this month, the New York Times reported that O'Reilly and Fox News had paid $13 million over several years to five people to keep quiet over sexual harassment claims. More accusations of sexual harassment were reported since and two had already been public. O'Reilly has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
In the past two and a half weeks since the Times' story broke, at least 50 advertisers pulled out of the Factor and O'Reilly, who went on a supposedly pre-planned vacation to Italy last week, had been off the air.
He was scheduled to return on Monday, but now he's never coming back to his show, the self described "no-spin zone." He's actually, literally no longer a factor.
MURDOCHS letter to 21st Century Fox employees (pictured) https://t.co/Wkcm2pBssw pic.twitter.com/43AzHoH5PD
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) April 19, 2017
How's that for no spin?