Fox News has backed host Bill O'Reilly after his $13million payments to five women were revealed amid sexual harassment claims of 'dirty phone calls, unwanted kisses and hotel room invites'.

O'Reilly responded to a New York Times report that detailed payouts made to settle accusations of sexual harassment and other inappropriate behavior toward Rachel Witlieb Bernstein, Andrea Mackris, Rebecca Gomez Diamond, Laurie Dhue, and Juliet Huddy - all of whom worked with O'Reilly or appeared on his show.

He posted his statement to his website after the report came out Saturday. A short time later, Fox News' parent company 21st Century Fox backed him in their own statement.

It read: '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.'

Bill O'Reilly, along with Fox News, have paid out $13million to five women who accused the TV show host of sexual harassment and verbal abuse

O'Reilly and 21st Century Fox reportedly paid a sum of $13million to the five women, beginning in 2002 over these complaints 'in exchange for agreeing to not pursue litigation or speak about their accusations against him'.

21st Century Fox, which is still dealing with the legal fallout from sexual harassment charges against former Fox News head Roger Ailes, did not reply to questions about the O'Reilly payouts or whether any disciplinary action was taken against O'Reilly.

O'Reilly's statement did not deny the payments. 'Just like other prominent and controversial people, I'm vulnerable to lawsuits from individuals who want me to pay them to avoid negative publicity,' it said.

Requests for comments sent to a lawyer and a spokesman for O'Reilly were not immediately answered.

21st Century Fox said O'Reilly (pictured in 2016) denied the merits of 'these claims' but has 'resolved those he regarded as his personal responsibility'

The Times story said more than 60 people were interviewed, including current and former employees of Fox News or its parent company and people who know the women behind the complaints or are close to O'Reilly. Most demanded anonymity.

Mackris, who worked as a producer on his show, said O'Reilly called her while he was masturbating, told her to buy a vibrator, and described his sexual fantasies with her, according to a 2004 lawsuit.

She settled with O'Reilly to the tune of $9million and a public statement that asserted there was 'no wrongdoing whatsoever', the Times reported.

In addition to the five women, Wendy Walsh, a regular on his show, along with Andrea Tantaros, a former Fox News host, also accused the 67-year-old of inappropriate behavior.

They did not receive pay outs, and Tantaros is currently in a legal battle with Fox News and Ailes, who was forced to resign in July amid a sexual harassment scandal.

After the explosive report was published Saturday, O'Reilly said in his statement that he settled for the sake of his children.

The first settlement was reached in 2002, after O'Reilly screamed at producer Bernstein, according to witnesses and other employees.

Berstein soon left the company with an undisclosed sum, although those familiar with the deal said it was significantly smaller than the four settlements that followed over the course of the next 15 years.

In 2004, producer Mackris (left) claimed she was sexually harassed at the hands of her direct supervisor O'Reilly. She received a $9million payout

O'Reilly(pictured) took Mackris out to dinner in May 2002 to discuss her future at the company, and praised her work before saying he was giving her a raise. Mackris alleged he also offered advice on how to meet men since the producer had recently broken up with her fiance

In 2004, producer Mackris claimed she was sexually harassed at the hands of her direct supervisor O'Reilly.

O'Reilly took Mackris out to dinner in May 2002 to discuss her future at the company, and praised her work before announcing he was giving her a raise.

Mackris alleged he also offered advice on how to meet men since the producer had recently broken up with her fiance.

'Suddenly, without provocation or warning, Defendant Bill O'Reilly said to Plaintiff Andrea Macrkis, 'And just use your vibrator to blow off steam,'' according to the lawsuit.

The conversation continued with O'Reilly saying he had phone sex with another woman at Fox before suggesting he do the same with her, Mackris claimed.

He ended the dinner by winking and telling her, 'Stick with me and I'll take care of you,' the lawsuit stated.

Mackris also accused O'Reilly of suggesting they have a menage-a-trois and regaling her with stories of his sexual encounters, before a telephone call in August 2004.

According to the lawsuit, he told Mackris to buy a vibrator before 'it became apparent that Defendant was masturbating as he spoke. After he climaxed, Defendant O'Reilly said to the Plaintiff: 'I appreciate the fun phone call....''

Less than a month later, O'Reilly called her from the Republican National Convention, said he was watching porn, and launched into a monologue about his sexual fantasies of her before he ejaculated, the lawsuit stated.

Mackris said a similar phone call occurred on September 21, 2004, during which he allegedly said: 'Next time you'll come up to my hotel room and we'll make this happen.'

The lawsuit also accused O'Reilly of threatening Mackris, saying any woman who complained about him would 'pay so dearly that she'll wish she'd never been born'.

He first accused her of trying to blackmail him for $60million in an preemptive campaign that enlisted a public relations firm to paint Mackris as a promiscuous gold-digger, the Times reported.

O'Reilly eventually paid around $9million, according to the Times.

Rebecca Diamond (right) a host on the Fox Business Network, revealed her recorded conversations with O'Reilly after the network told her they would not be renewing her contract

It was only when Fox launched an internal investigation into Ailes (left) in 2016, that the network learned O'Reilly (right) settled with Diamond in 2011 for an undisclosed sum

While 21st Century Fox was conducting an investigation into allegations surrounding Ailes in 2016, they learned of another settlement O'Reilly made in 2011.

Rebecca Gomez Diamond, a host on the Fox Business Network, revealed her recorded conversations with O'Reilly after the network told her they would not be renewing her contract, those familiar with the case told the Times.

She settled with O'Reilly for an undisclosed sum.

The network also struck deals with Laurie Dhue and Juliet Huddy in 2016 for more than $1million each after former Fox host Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Ailes.

The lawsuit prompted several other women to come forward with allegations against Ailes, who eventually resigned with a reported $60million golden parachute.

An internal investigation was launched, and the network quietly paid Dhue more than $1million after the anchor claimed she was sexually harassed by both O'Reilly and Ailes, the Times reported.

Huddy, an anchor who often appeared on O'Reilly's show, received a $1.6million settlement.

Huddy's lawyers said O'Reilly pursued a sexual relationship with her in 2011, and tried to limit her career prospects when she rejected him.

She complained about inappropriate phone calls, and once fell to the ground while she was pulled away from an unwanted kiss, her attorneys said.

The network quietly paid Dhue (left and right) more than $1million in 2016 after the anchor claimed she was sexually harassed by both O'Reilly and Ailes

Huddy's lawyers said O'Reilly pursued a sexual relationship with her in 2011, and tried to limit her career prospects when she rejected him. She settled for $1.6million

While the five women are now bound to confidentiality, another two who did not settle have made claims against O'Reilly's inappropriate behavior.

Tantaros turned down a settlement of nearly $1million, and launched a lawsuit against both Fox and Ailes.

While O'Reilly is not a defendant in the case, Tantaros said he invited her to a 'very private' stay with him on Long Island, and made comments about seeing her as 'a wild girl', according to the lawsuit.

Her psychologist also testified saying Tantaros complained about O'Reilly's unwanted advances, but Fox investigated and called her an 'opportunist'.

Walsh, who was a frequent guest on O'Reilly's show, said he promised to make her a network contributor when the two went out to dinner.

But Walsh turned down an invitation to visit O'Reilly's hotel suite after dinner and her rejection apparently angered him, according to Walsh.

O'Reilly then told her to forget his career advice and said her black purse was ugly, the Times reported.

She was never made a contributor, and a producer said she wasn't invited back on the show after four months due to declining ratings.

Walsh never filed a complaint for fear of harming her career.

In addition to the five women, Andrea Tantaros (left), a former Fox News host, and Wendy Walsh (right), a regular on his show, also accused O'Reilly of inappropriate behavior

O'Reilly said his job made him a 'target', adding that he settled to save his children from distress.

He issued a statement that read: '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.

'The worst part of my job is being a target for those who would harm me and my employer, the Fox News Channel.

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

The O'Reilly Factor attracted an average of more than 3.9million viewers in the first quarter of 2017 - up from 3.3million in 2016.

O'Reilly's show is the most-watched cable news program in 2017 so far, according to Variety.