A photo of Bill O’Reilly shaking hands with Pope Francis surfaced Wednesday on social media, just shortly after it was reported that Fox News has decided to fire the star anchor.
Here is Bill O’Reilly literally meeting with Pope Francis this morning pic.twitter.com/SlNMqAnsKn
— Michael M. Grynbaum (@grynbaum) April 19, 2017
A reporter for the New York Times shared the photo on Twitter, and said it was taken this morning during O’Reilly’s vacation in Italy.
“Here is Bill O’Reilly literally meeting with Pope Francis this morning,” wrote the reporter, Michael Grynbaum.
Citing anonymous sources, New York magazine reported Wednesday that O’Reilly has become too much of a liability and had to be let go, following reports of several sexual harassment claims against him and that were settled by him and his company.
“Sources briefed on the discussions say O’Reilly’s exit negotiations are moving quickly,” the report said. “Right now, a key issue on the table is whether he would be allowed to say good-bye to his audience, perhaps the most loyal in all of cable.”
O’Reilly is currently on vacation and was scheduled to return Monday.
