Bill O’Reilly apologizes after using Eric Bolling’s dead son to speak on sexual harassment

NEW YORK - MAY 08: (U.S. TABS AND HOLLYWOOD REPORTER OUT) Television personality Bill O'Reilly attends a cocktail party for Time Magazine's 100 Most Infuential People issue at Jazz at Lincoln Center May 8, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images); NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 26: Co-host Eric Bolling attends FOX News' 'The Five' at FOX Studios on February 26, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)

Former Fox News anchor Bill O’Reilly apologized to fellow former host Eric Bolling for pulling his recently deceased son back into the spotlight during an interview about O’Reilly’s latest sexual harassment controversy.

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Similar harassment claims led to the death of Bolling’s son, Eric Chase Bolling Jr., the former “O’Reilly Factor” host told New York Times journalists on “The Daily” podcast. “He’s dead because of allegations made — in my opinion and I know this to be true — against Mr. Bolling,” O’Reilly said.

Bolling released a statement in response, calling O’Reilly’s words “beyond inappropriate”:

I believe it is beyond inappropriate for anyone to bring in the tragic death of my son Eric Chase Bolling. Just as Bill O’Reilly had wanted to shield his children from the allgations against him, I hope he will honor my request and avoid any future mentions of my son.

“My parting with Fox News was in no way connected to the tragic news of my son’s passing,” he added just before saying that a coroner ruled his son’s death an accident. Bolling’s son was pronounced dead at only 19 years old in September.

O’Reilly later issued an apology to Bolling on Twitter.

RELATED: Megyn Kelly scorches former colleague Bill O’Reilly on TV following Fox News settlement

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