Unearthed video of Bette Midler accusing Geraldo of groping makes his defensive tweets look worse

Things are getting worse for Geraldo Rivera.

The Fox News commentator stirred controversy and raised eyebrows in a series of tweets Wednesday when he defended disgraced former NBC host Matt Lauer.

Rivera later issued an apology, saying he didn’t “sufficiently explain” the issue of sexual harassment.

But observers found new significance in his remarks due to an unearthed 1991 interview where singer-actress Bette Midler told journalist Barbara Walters she was groped by Rivera in the ’70s.

Walters introduced the question by referencing Rivera’s autobiography, in which he claimed to have had an affair with the singer.

Midler first laughed off the claim, saying Rivera’s “penis went to his head,” before going on to say “One thing I did remember is how I met Geraldo and that was not funny.”

Geraldo Rivera, right, with comedian Joan Rivers in 1993. (AP Photo/George Nikitin).

She hesitated going on with her story until being pressed by Walters. Midler then continued:

“Geraldo and his producer came to do an interview with me in the ’70s, the early ’70s. And this was when he was very sort of hot.

“And he and his producer left the crew in the other room. They pushed me into my bathroom. They broke two poppers and pushed them under my nose and proceeded to grope me. …

“I did not offer myself up on the altar of Geraldo Rivera. He was unseemly. His behavior was unseemly.”

Walters tried to steer the conversation away to other topics, but Midler concluded the thought.

“I’ll tell you the truth, if I had known 20 years later he was gonna wind up as a slimy talk show host I never would have even let him in the room, you know?”

Singer Bette Midler said Rivera and his producer groped her after popping pills in her mouth in the ’70s.

Fox News has since put out a statement addressing Rivera’s tweets:

“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.”

Rivera is known for his extremely outspoken personality. But this time, his penchant for the sensational may not play to his favor.

DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW

Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!

Success! Thank you for donating. Please share BPR content to help combat the lies.

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

BPR INSIDER COMMENTS

Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!

Latest Articles