Bill O'Reilly Denies Report Alleging Physical Abuse of Ex-Wife

Gawker says the Fox News Channel star dragged his ex-wife down a staircase by her neck, unaware that their daughter was watching.

Bill O'Reilly is denying allegations surfacing Monday that he physically abused his ex-wife.

The Fox News Channel star issued a statement to The Hollywood Reporter through his personal attorney that reads: "All allegations against me in these circumstances are 100 percent false."

The allegations come by way of Gawker, which said Monday it learned of details surrounding a bitter three-year custody battle between O'Reilly and his former wife, Maureen McPhilmy.

"A court-appointed forensic examiner testified at a closed hearing that O'Reilly's daughter claimed to have witnessed her father dragging McPhilmy down a staircase by her neck, apparently unaware that the daughter was watching," Gawker reported Monday. The incident allegedly occurred prior to the couple's separation in 2010.

"I am going to respect the court-mandated confidentiality put in place to protect my children and will not comment any further," O'Reilly said through his attorney, Fred Newman of Hoguet Newman Regal & Kenney.

O'Reilly's custody battle ended three weeks ago with McPhilmy being granted custody of the couple's two minor children, though most of the documents are sealed. Gawker says its source is someone "familiar with the facts of the case."

Politico first reported the statement from O'Reilly.

Email: Paul.Bond@THR.com