Fox News’ Bret Baier defends Roger Ailes to Stephen Colbert

By Hector Cruz | Jul 13, 2016

The Fox News anchor came out in support of Roger Ailes during an interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert amid sexual harassment allegations.

During an interview with Bret Baier on Tuesday’s The Late Show, Stephen Colbert wasted no time in asking the Fox News host about the lawsuit filed by his former colleague Gretchen Carlson against Roger Ailes, the CEO and Chairman of the network, for sexual harassment. At least six other women have since come forward to make similar charges. However, Baier maintains that the allegations aren’t in line with the “amazing” man that he knows, and stated that the negative headlines “are foreign to me.”

After Baier awkwardly bantered with Colbert about his “surreal” interview with John Turturro that preceded his appearance, the host jumped right in by asking him about “the news I’m sure you don’t welcome” over at Fox News, referencing the lawsuit.

“What’s it like over there in the hallways?” he asked. “Because other people have come out in support of these accusations. Are there lawyers everywhere? What’s the mood like over there?”

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The Special Report with Bret Baier host, who has worked at FNC for 19 years, immediately vouched for Ailes, replying that he’s been amazing to him and his family over the years, as well many people at Fox News who have publicly come out to support him, having been one of the first people to call after his son had open heart surgery.

“That’s the Roger I know,” he said. “So these headlines are foreign to me.”

Baier quickly sought to change the subject to the upcoming conventions and his interview with Donald Trump on Wednesday. After Colbert inquired what he was planning to ask the Republican nominee, Baier wanted to know what the comedian would ask him.

“I would ask him to define the word ‘great,'” he responded. “And in his answer, he can’t use the words ‘tremendous,’ ‘fantastic’ or ‘totally believe me.'”

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Baier and Colbert went on to discuss Fox News’ preparations for the Democratic and Republican national conventions, which could prove be so tumultuous due to protests that the media covering the event will be equipped with gas masks. During the conversation, Colbert indirectly took a shot at Baier’s employer when referring to his personal friends that are “in the real press,” which he quickly sought to clarify.

“I wish I had thought of that joke,” he admitted. “But in fact, what I mean is that I’m not real press. People mistook me for it for many years.”

Colbert is also slated to cover the 2016 conventions with two weeks of live episodes starting next week, joining fellow late-night hosts Bill Maher and Seth Meyers. While The Late Show will continue to be broadcast from the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, the program will have an on-site presence in both Cleveland and Philadelphia, where the RNC and DNC will take place, respectively.

Colbert concluded: “Good luck next week, and the week after. We’ll be live too. So I’ll see you in hell.”

Next: Colbert rubs Chicago Cubs players for good luck on Late Show

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. on CBS. The rest of this week’s guests include Benjamin Bratt, Bill Maher and Michael K. Williams.

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