Fox News host Bill O’Reilly and the network’s parent company, 21st Century Fox, have paid about $13m in settlements to five women who accused the anchor of sexual harassment or verbal abuse, according to an investigation by the New York Times.

The women accused O’Reilly in cases from the past two decades. According to the newspaper, the settlements were made “in exchange for agreeing to not pursue litigation or speak about their accusations”.

The Times said it conducted more than five dozen interviews with people connected to the incidents, including some close to O’Reilly and the accusers. Two of the settlements were previously known.

The report comes after a difficult year for Fox News. In July, Roger Ailes was forced to leave as chairman following a sexual harassment scandal. Ailes has denied the allegations against him.

“The reporting suggests a pattern,” the Times report said. “As an influential figure in the newsroom, Mr O’Reilly would create a bond with some women by offering advice and promising to help them professionally.

“He then would pursue sexual relationships with them, causing some to fear that if they rebuffed him, their careers would stall.”

In an email to the Guardian, a Fox News spokeswoman said the network would not comment beyond the statement it released to the Times.

“21st Century Fox takes matters of workplace behavior very seriously,” the statement said.

“Notwithstanding the fact that no current or former Fox News employee ever took advantage of the 21st Century Fox hotline to raise a concern about Bill O’Reilly, even anonymously, we have looked into these matters over the last few months and discussed them with Mr O’Reilly.

“While he denies the merits of these claims, Mr O’Reilly has resolved those he regarded as his personal responsibility. Mr O’Reilly is fully committed to supporting our efforts to improve the environment for all our employees at Fox News.”

In a statement on his website, O’Reilly said: “Just like other prominent and controversial people, I’m vulnerable to lawsuits from individuals who want me to pay them to avoid negative publicity.



“In my more than 20 years at Fox News Channel, no one has ever filed a complaint about me with the Human Resources Department, even on the anonymous hotline.

“But most importantly, I’m a father who cares deeply for my children and who would do anything to avoid hurting them in any way. And so I have put to rest any controversies to spare my children.”

O’Reilly suggested he had been targeted by people who sought to harm him and Fox News.

“Those of us in the arena are constantly at risk, as are our families and children,” he said. “My primary efforts will continue to be to put forth an honest TV program and to protect those close to me.”

The two previously known cases involving O’Reilly concerned former Fox News employees.

In October 2004, producer Andrea Mackris accused O’Reilly of sexual harassment. He responded with a countersuit claiming Mackris was attempting extortion. The case was settled with O’Reilly agreeing to pay Mackris $9m, according to the Times.

In January 2017, the Times reported that longtime Fox News anchor Juliet Huddy had struck an agreement with the network after alleging O’Reilly had made sexual advances toward her and threatened to harm her career after she rebuffed him.