Singer, actor and Broadway star, Bette Midler, recently came forward with a reminder for fans: do not trust Geraldo Rivera. According to Midler, the Fox News correspondent groped her after an interview in the 1970s. Midler first came forward with the accusation in an interview with Barbra Walters many years ago. The video clip of the accusation resurfaced this week with Rivera took to Twitter to defend Today news anchor, Matt Lauer, who was just fired on the grounds of sexual assault. Rivera tweeted that, “news is a flirty business.”
Sad about @MLauer great guy, highly skilled & empathetic w guests & a real gentleman to my family & me. News is a flirty business & it seems like current epidemic of #SexHarassmentAllegations may be criminalizing courtship & conflating it w predation. What about #GarrisonKeillor?
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) November 29, 2017
Fox News denounced the tweets, prompting Rivera to apologize for his comments. Soon after, Midler fans shared the initial video where Midler accuses him of assault. In the video, she opens up about Rivera and his producer pushing her into her bathroom, pushing poppers under her nose and proceeding to grope her. Midler herself shared the video saying it was, “a gift from the universe.” She went on to tweet, “Geraldo may have apologized for his tweets supporting Matt Lauer, but he has yet to apologize for this.”
Tomorrow is my birthday. I feel like this video was a gift from the universe to me. Geraldo may have apologized for his tweets supporting Matt Lauer, but he has yet to apologize for this. #MeToo pic.twitter.com/TkcolFWfA2
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) November 30, 2017
According to CNN, Rivera then responded to the video in a tweet saying, “Although I recall the time Bette Midler has alluded to much differently than she, that does not change the fact that she has a right to speak out & demand an apology from me, for in the very least, publically embarrassing her all those years ago. Bette, I apologize.” He also went on to apologize for his risqué book, Exposing Myself, which distastefully divulges intimate details about his sex life. Midler has yet to respond to his apology.
Although I recall the time @BetteMidler has alluded to much differently than she, that does not change the fact that she has a right to speak out & demand an apology from me, for in the very least, publically embarrassing her all those years ago. Bette, I apologize.
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) December 1, 2017