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Here are the 10 most-followed Instagram accounts in 2017

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Selena GomezSelena Gomez is the queen of Instagram for the second year in a row.

Instagram released its 2017 Year in Review on Wednesday, which highlights the most-liked posts, top hashtags, and most-used filters from the past year.

Gomez is the most-followed celebrity on Instagram for 2017, holding onto her title from last year and adding 24 million new followers in the process. 

Besides Gomez, several members of the Kardashian-Jenner clan, as well as Dwayne Johnson and soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, top the list. 

Here are the most-followed accounts on Instagram this year:

SEE ALSO: Here are the 10 most-liked Instagram posts of 2017

10. Kendall Jenner

Jenner's account, @kendalljenner, has more than 84.8 million followers.



9. Justin Bieber

Bieber's account, @justinbieber, has more than 93.9 million followers.



8. Dwayne Johnson

Johnson's account, @therock, has more than 96 million followers.



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10 things you missed in the 'Avengers: Infinity War' trailer

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The long-awaited first official trailer for Marvel's "Avengers: Infinity War" is finally here. The Avengers will have to team up with the Guardians of the Galaxy to have any hope of taking down Thanos and his Black Order. The film is scheduled for release in May. Here are 10 things you might have missed:

1. Hulk returns to Earth, and it looks like he crashes through Doctor Strange's house.

2. Vision has taken on a human form and he may be in a relationship with Scarlet Witch.

3. A lot of the action takes place in Black Panther's Wakanda. Thanos may be after the country's vibranium, the same material used to make Captain America's shield. He could also be looking for an Infinity Stone in Wakanda.

4. This is the first time we've seen Spider-Man's spider-sense.

5. Spider-Man has a new Stark-issued suit.

6. Proxima Midnight, a child of Thanos, is seen. She's a member of his villainous Black Order

7. Captain America is back and charging into battle without his shield. He's also wearing Wakandan armor on his forearms.

8. It looks like Black Panther is fighting a Chitauri, which means they weren't fully defeated in "Avengers".

9. Thanos is trying to take Vision's "Mind Stone". He already has the "Reality Stone," first seen in "Thor: The Dark World." He also has the "Space Stone," which may have been inside the Tesseract from "Avengers."

10. Thor winds up on the Guardians' ship, where Baby Groot has become a teenager!

"Avengers: Infinity War" will hit theaters May 2018.

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Daniel Day-Lewis says he's not even going to see his last movie before retiring

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Daniel Day Lewis

  • In June, Daniel Day-Lewis announced that he is retiring from acting.
  • His final film, "Phantom Thread," is coming out on December 25.
  • In a recent interview with W Magazine, Day-Lewis says that he won't be seeing the movie.

 

Three time Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis has retired from acting, and his last movie ever is coming out on Christmas Day — but you won't catch him seeing it, ever.

In an interview with W Magazine, Day-Lewis opened up for the first time about his retirement, which was announced in June. He also said that he won't be seeing his final movie, "Phantom Thread," directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, who directed his Oscar-winning role in "There Will Be Blood." 

Day-Lewis told W that the film "got its hooks into me,” but he didn't elaborate on what exactly was so difficult about the shoot. “I haven’t figured it out,” Day-Lewis said. “But it’s settled on me, and it’s just there. Not wanting to see the film is connected to the decision I’ve made to stop working as an actor. But it’s not why the sadness came to stay. That happened during the telling of the story, and I don’t really know why.”

Day-Lewis, who typically keeps his personal life private, is notorious for being incredibly selective about his roles. Day-Lewis would take years of breaks in between films, waiting for the right project. 

Day-Lewis also told W that he didn't plan his retirement before working on "Phantom Thread."

"I do know that Paul [Thomas Anderson] and I laughed a lot before we made the movie," he said. "And then we stopped laughing because we were both overwhelmed by a sense of sadness. That took us by surprise: We didn’t realize what we had given birth to. It was hard to live with. And still is.”

You can catch his final film, "Phantom Thread," in theaters on Christmas day, and you can watch the trailer below:

 

SEE ALSO: Dave Franco almost ruined his health losing 20 pounds for his new Netflix movie: 'I was full-on depressed'

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NOW WATCH: This South Korean boy band is taking over the music world

Viacom CEO Bob Bakish on sexual harassment in media and Hollywood: 'This is hopefully a watershed moment'

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  • Bob BakishSexual harassment is a problem that transcends the media and Hollywood industries, according to Viacom president and chief Bob Bakish.
  • "This is not a Hollywood-media problem, this is a problem across all industries, including the US government," said Bakish, speaking at Business Insider's Ignition conference in New York on Wednesday.
  • Bakish called the wave of sexual harassment reports since Harvey Weinstein "a watershed moment" in the quest toward safer workplaces.

NBC fired TV journalist and "Today" host Matt Lauer due to "inappropriate sexual behavior" on Wednesday — the recent in a string of dismissals owing to sexual misconduct in the industry.

But Viacom president and chief Bob Bakish doesn't think sexual harassment is a problem specific to the media and Hollywood industries.

"This is not a Hollywood-media problem, this is a problem across all industries, including the US government," said Bakish, speaking at Business Insider's Ignition conference in New York on Wednesday. "And this is not a US problem, this is a global problem."

The floodgates have opened ever since accusations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein came to light, with scores of women coming out with allegations against some of the most powerful figures in media and beyond, including Mark Halperin and Charlie Rose.

"This hopefully is a watershed moment where we actually do create safer workplaces, because that’s ultimately what should happen here," said Bakish.

He also said that Viacom was invested in doing its part in making things right. "We view this as a real issue and I do believe this will be a place we look back at that things will change," he said.

Among the other topics the Viacom chief hit on Wednesday:

  • Bakish said that while the stock market may not reflect this as yet, Viacom had stabilized its traditional business, and was now pushing toward multiplatform growth and investing in next generation platforms.
  • He also noted that Viacom's digital reach was up with the likes of Disney and BuzzFeed, but consumption still lagged. Moving forward, the company needed to ramp that up and that's where new initiatives like the native studio business would help.

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Jay-Z breaks his silence on his tense relationship with Kanye West

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  • Jay-Z addressed his current relationship with Kanye West in an interview with The New York Times.
  • Tension between the two rappers began when West called out Jay-Z during his now-infamous rant in Sacramento during his Saint Pablo tour.
  • Jay-Z said that he and West will "always be good" but things "happened that's not really acceptable to me."


On Wednesday, The New York Times released a lengthy interview with Jay-Z in which the rap legend touched on topics including politics, going to therapy, and even the status of his relationship with Kanye West.

After Jay-Z helped launch West's career — first hiring West as a producer on his Roc-A-Fella Records label and then signing his as a rapper — their collaboration hit its peak when they teamed up to release the landmark 2011 "Watch the Throne" album.

However, things soured between the two last year when, on his Saint Pablo tour, West went on a now-legendary rant in Sacramento. Stopping the show, West called out everyone from Beyoncé to Mark Zuckerberg, but then took a shot at Jay-Z.

"I’ve been sitting here to give y’all the truth," West said to the crowd. "Jay Z, call me, bruh. You still ain’t calling me. Jay Z, call me… Jay Z. Hey, don’t send killers at my head, bro. This ain’t the Malcolm X movie. We growing from that moment. Let ‘Ye be ‘Ye."

Two days later, West checked himself into a hospital. 

Jay-Z fired back on his "4:44" album. In the song "Kill Jay-Z" he raps: "You ain't a saint / This ain't KumbaYe / But you got hurt because you did cool by Ye / You gave him $20 without blinking / He gave you 20 minutes on stage / [What] was he thinkin'?"

Jay-Z had dished out $20 million as part of his contract to cover expenses for West's Saint Pablo tour.

Here's footage of West's rant:

In The New York Times interview, the paper's executive editor Dean Baquet asked Jay-Z when he had last spoken to West.

"I [talked to] Kanye the other day, just to tell him, like, he's my brother. I love Kanye. I do. It's a complicated relationship with us," Jay-Z said. "Kanye came into this business on my label. So I've always been like his big brother. And we're both entertainers. It's always been like a little underlying competition with your big brother. And we both love and respect each other's art, too. So it's like, we both — everyone wants to be the greatest in the world. You know what I'm saying? And then there's like a lot of other factors that play in it. But it's gonna, we gonna always be good."

"I think he started out in a more compassionate position than me," Jay-Z continued. "You know what I'm saying. I don't know if he's had the level of — I mean, I had to survive by my instincts. I'm here because I grew up a different way… But [West is] a very compassionate person. And a lot of times he gets in trouble trying to help others. So I can identify with it. It's just that there's certain things that happened that's not really acceptable to me. And we just need to speak about it. But there's genuine love there."

Read the entire New York Times interview here. 

SEE ALSO: All the times you've seen Meghan Markle in TV and movies, but didn't realize it

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Megyn Kelly heard rumors about Matt Lauer and 'hoped it wasn't true'

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During an interview at Business Insider's IGNITION conference in New York on Wednesday, NBC's Megyn Kelly told us that she'd heard rumors about Matt Lauer, but she did not know the extent of the allegations until Wednesday. Following is a transcript of the video.

Alyson Shontell: We gotta address the elephant in the room first. Matt Lauer ... holy cow.

When you woke up this morning, did you know that this was brewing? What were your thoughts?

Megyn Kelly: No, I didn't. You know, I ...

Shontell: Not at all? Not like ... "Variety" and "The New York Times" have been working on stories. You don't hear about these things? 

Kelly: So, I didn't have any official knowledge. But because of the work I do, and the stories I cover, and the connections I have in the industry, I have a general feel for... I mean I knew the Charlie Rose thing was coming.

And I had heard rumors about Matt, but that's all they were. And my feeling on it was a rumor is not the same as reportable fact, and it was also that I hear a lot of rumors about myself too that are completely untrue. And when you're a public figure, people do make up things about you and put them in print.

So I had no inside knowledge at all, but I knew people were sniffing around the issue. And hoped it wasn't true and wouldn't have been surprised if none of that had materialized, and he had a long... you know... and enjoyable last whatever, however many years he wanted to be at the "Today Show."

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Here's how Megyn Kelly responded when asked if she still thinks Santa is white

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During an interview at Business Insider's IGNITION conference in New York on Wednesday, NBC News' Megyn Kelly reflected on her past controversial remarks including a statement she made about Santa Claus' ethnicity on Fox News that made headlines in 2013. Following is a transcript of the video.

Alyson Shontell: You know when you’re constantly speaking your mind, you’re going to say things that don’t always resonate or people don’t agree with. I think one notable one is ‘Santa is white’ on Fox as a moment.

(FOX News clip starts)

Megyn Kelly: In Slate, they have a piece on dotcom, “Santa Claus should not be a white man anymore.” And when I saw this headline I kind of laughed and I said “this is so ridiculous. Yet another person claiming it’s racist to have a white Santa,” you know. And by the way for all you kids watching at home, Santa just is white. But this person is arguing that maybe we should also have a black Santa. But Santa is what he is and just so you know, we’re just debating this because someone wrote about it, kids.
(FOX News clip ends)

Shontell: The first week of your show, there were a few statements that rubbed people the wrong way about Jane Fonda and plastic surgery and things like that. Upon further reflection, do you regret anything you said out there and is Santa still white?

Kelly:
I regret a lot of what I've said. I mean you're going to be on the air several hours a week live television, you’re going to say stupid shit.That's just the reality you know, so yeah there's a lot I'd like to go back and say differently.

All I can tell you is I think the lens is a truth-teller and people who watch you day after day will see who you are without the caricature of you that's put out there by websites and so on looming over you. You know one of my great struggles at Fox was I felt everything I did was viewed through a negative prism by those who didn't like Fox or what it stands for and I hated that. You know I think there's a lot of people over there who are good people and solid journalists who I love who struggle with that. And I'm sure people at other stations have the same things, you know, people have a worldview about certain journalists or their organizations.

And I really hope that in my new position people will just see me for who I am and not through that not through that prism you know. So far I feel like it's happening, but I feel like time will tell. You'll see me and you'll see you'll figure out who I am and then people will accept or not accept based on what they see. And that's all that's all I can ask from anybody.

NOW WATCH: Megyn Kelly heard rumors about Matt Lauer and 'hoped it wasn't true'

NOW WATCH: 'It was bulls---': Megyn Kelly responds to being called Trump's 'chew toy'

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Megyn Kelly said Roger Ailes 'tried to grab me 3 times and make out with me,' and shared her advice to women facing sexual harassment

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  • NBC News anchor Megyn Kelly shared her experience with sexual harassment during Business Insider's IGNITION conference.
  • Kelly said her former employer Roger Ailes sexually harassed her at the start of her career at Fox News, but that she initially did not recognize that she was being harassed.
  • Kelly urged women to try and report any sexual misconduct when it occurs.


NBC News anchor Megyn Kelly detailed the sexual harassment she faced when working under deceased Fox News boss Roger Ailes, during an interview at Business Insider's IGNITION conference in New York City. 

Kelly said that at first she didn't recognize she was being harassed.

"He was always bawdy and had an inappropriate sense of humor," Kelly said of Ailes. As someone who didn't easily take offense to those kinds of remarks, Kelly said she brushed it off. 

"The harassment that I went through wasn't obviously harassment in the beginning," Kelly said.

But eventually, Kelly said that Ailes' behavior toward her got "worse, and worse, and worse," and got to a point where she felt she "couldn't deny it."

"It was explicit quid pro quo sexual harassment, which was basically: 'You sleep with me, and I'll give you a promotion,'" Kelly said.

Even still, Kelly said that she laughed off the advances and tried to convince herself that nothing was happening because she didn't want to have "a direct confrontation with him."

But things came to a head when Ailes had Kelly meet him in his office, she said.

"It culminated in him trying to be with me physically, and it was only at that point where you couldn't pretend it wasn't happening anymore, that I really had to come to terms with it," Kelly said. "And, I ran out of the guy's office, he tried to grab me three times and make out with me."

Each time Ailes grabbed Kelly she pushed him off of her, she said. And the last time Kelly pushed him off of her, Ailes asked her when her contract was up, she said.

Kelly said she reported Ailes' behavior to a supervisor but was told to "steer clear of him."

Kelly said she was uncomfortable, and, because of the powerless position she was in at the time, it seemed like good advice, but in retrospect she said the advice was "terrible." 

The NBC News host advised women to try and find a way to seek people out and report inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace, even if it seems futile.

"I want to say to those women, I understand. It's not that I'm oblivious of how hard it is to report," Kelly said. "But I want to say: Find a way. Because the culture, I don't want to say has changed, but it is changing, meaningfully by the moment. Thanks to the women that are finding the courage."

Ailes resigned as the CEO and chairman of Fox News in 2016 after being accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women at the network, including Gretchen Carlson, who filed a lawsuit against the mogul in July 2016. Ailes died in May.

SEE ALSO: 22 powerful men in politics and media accused of sexual misconduct in the wake of Harvey Weinstein

SEE ALSO: Megyn Kelly on Matt Lauer: 'I had heard rumors about Matt'

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The 29 best games on the PlayStation 4

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There are almost too many games on the PlayStation 4. If you're a new owner, or even an early adopter, it's hard to know where to start.That's why we put together the list below, full of only the greatest bangers worth spending your time and money on.

Of note: The list is not ranked. There is one exception, as "Horizon Zero Dawn" is clearly the best game on the PlayStation 4 — thus, it's in the first spot. Otherwise, these are the 29 best games on the PlayStation 4 (in no particular order).

 

 

 

 

 

SEE ALSO: The Nintendo Switch is the hottest game system of the year — here are its 15 best games

29. "Rocket League"

What is "Rocket League?" It's a madman's vision for future soccer. It's soccer with rocket cars, played three vs three or four vs four. Yes!

You can make your car jump, and flip, and you've got rockets that offer a massive speed boost for limited periods of time. It's simple to pick up and play, surprisingly deep to master, and always a tremendous amount of fun. Will you get to the ball fast enough to beat out the competition, and ultimately get the ball away from your goal and toward theirs? This is the basest level question you seek to answer at any given second in "Rocket League." Good luck!

Read our full review of "Rocket League" right here. 



28. "Final Fantasy XV"

If you've never played a massive Japanese role-playing game, this is a good place to start.

"Final Fantasy XV" is a gigantic, gorgeous, sprawling role-playing game set in a futuristic/fantasy world. It's kind of a road story, kind of a hero story, and entirely bizarre. When you're not rolling around in the sweet ride above, you're cavorting around on massive birds (chocobos) and defeating bizarre monsters. 

Read more about "Final Fantasy XV" right here.



27. "Grand Theft Auto V"

"Grand Theft Auto" has never been better than the latest entry: "Grand Theft Auto V". 

In "GTA V" you can play as one of three different main characters, carrying off major heists and doing all manner of other madness. Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you already know what you're getting into with "GTA V." It's a satire of modern American life set in an enormous open-world. 



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Megyn Kelly shares a harrowing story about her 5-year-old daughter: 'It was the lowest point' during my feud with Trump

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Megyn Kelly Monica Schipper Getty

  • Megyn Kelly spoke at Business Insider's IGNITION conference on Wednesday.
  • She spoke about the feud she had with President Donald Trump.
  • She said the lowest point was when her daughter asked her what a "bimbo" meant, a word used toward Kelly in tweets, which Trump retweeted.


On Wednesday, Megyn Kelly, host of the NBC morning show "Megyn Kelly Today," spoke at Business Insider's IGNITION conference and addressed a wide range of topics with Business Insider's US editor-in-chief Alyson Shontell. But one of the most powerful moments was when Kelly looked back on her feud with Donald Trump during the presidential election — specifically, how it affected her family. 

At the time one of the major faces of Fox News, Kelly never backed down from Trump's attempts to intimidate her when they would talk. Things then escalated when Kelly called out Trump's disrespectful language toward women at the Republicain debate she moderated.

But Kelly said the worst moment was when her then 5-year-old daughter, Yardley, asked her one day what the word bimbo means. At the time, Trump had been retweeting people referring to Kelly by using that word.

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"The Yardley moment was maybe the lowest moment of all, or one of the lowest moments," Kelly told Shontell on stage at IGNITION. "We didn’t share with our kids at all any of this nonsense because they have enough to worry about than presidential politics and certainly anything involving me and the possible president."

Kelly said what was most devastating about her daughter asking the question was that she had recently taken Yardley on a mother-daughter trip.

"I had taken her with me to the Fortune Most Powerful Women’s Conference and she said to me on the train ride down, 'What is this thing we’re going to?' And I said this is a conference that talks about really powerful women who have done great things and celebrates them. And she looked at me and said, 'Are we two of them?' I thought about the loss that my child had suffered without even knowing it. Going from thinking that she, 4 or 5 at the time, was a Fortune Most Powerful Woman to asking me what a bimbo is."

Kelly was interviewed mere hours after NBC announced that longtime "Today" host Matt Lauer had been fired for "inappropriate sexual behavior" at work. Kelly said at IGNITION that she had heard rumors, but regardless, the latest takedown of a powerful man makes her believe we're currently in a moment where the era of women being "nice" to men in the workplace to get ahead is over, and it's time to be treated as equals.

"Every time a man — whether it is our president or a news anchor — demeans or diminishes a woman by grabbing her a-- or talking about her body or coming onto her instead of asking for her ideas and treating her as a professional in the workplace, they lose something too," she said. "It’s not a small matter, it’s a huge deal. And it’s been happening systemically for far too long. I feel like this is the first moment we’re starting to think maybe it doesn’t have to keep happening, maybe we won’t have to be the 'nice' women and girls we’ve been raised to be. That is what is prized among women and young girls: 'niceness.' Go along to get along. Don’t cause waves. Enough of that. Enough of that."  

Watch Business Insider's full interview with Megyn Kelly below:

SEE ALSO: jay-Z breaks his silence on his tense relationship with Kanye West

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Shaq will run for sheriff in 2020 — and he has a plan to heal the disconnect between police and communities

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Former NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal recently announced that he plans to run for sheriff in Henry County, Georgia in 2020. We asked Shaq about what he hopes to achieve with his transition to law enforcement. 

Shaq recently stopped by Business Insider to talk about his collaboration with home security technology company 
Ring to raise awareness about how homeowners can better protect their property this holiday season. Shaq recently kicked off a campaign with Ring's CEO Jamie Siminoff around protecting holiday package deliveries - specifically as National Package Protection Day is observed on Nov. 29. Following is a transcript of the video.

Shaquille O'Neal: When I was in LA, I went through a full-fledged police academy, so I know the hard work and dedication that these guys put in to keep people safe. Me running for sheriff — I've felt, over the past couple of years, there's been a disconnect from the community and police.

So, the community that I'm in – I'm definitely gonna try to bring that back together.

[Shaq is a spokesman for the home security company Ring]

O'Neal: I've mentioned that I plan on running in 2020. I live in Henry County. There's a little town called McDonough outside of Atlanta. When I was coming up, the police were loved and respected, but you know, it's tough for both sides right now. 

I would try to bring back community policing. When I was coming up, there was a cop in my neighborhood. Everybody knew him. He was a fair guy. Like, he'd catch you stealing gum and he'd tap you. "Hey, man get outta here."

You know, we needed that. Then, you'd have Mrs. Jones be like, "Hey, Officer so-and-so. The kids are down there fighting." 

And then he'd go down there and break it up. So, I would definitely try to introduce that back. We are definitely more divided than ever. That's why, whenever I'm out there, I just try to ease people's tension. We need more togetherness. We need more joyfulness. That's why I always try to just make people laugh because there's a lot going on  — a lot of craziness going on and you would think, in 2017, we would be much more advanced, but it seems like we're going backwards. 

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Matt Lauer reportedly gave a colleague a sex toy and exposed himself to a female staffer at the 'Today' show

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  • A Variety report published Wednesday details allegations of sexual misconduct against the longtime NBC host Matt Lauer by multiple current and former colleagues.
  • Lauer gave female colleagues inappropriate gifts, exposed himself, and quizzed them on who they had slept with in the office, the report says.
  • NBC fired Lauer on Wednesday after the network received a complaint of "inappropriate sexual behavior."


Matt Lauer has been accused by current and former colleagues of multiple instances of sexual harassment and engaging in a pattern of inappropriate behavior during his time at NBC, according to a Variety investigation published Wednesday.

Lauer allegedly gifted a sex toy to one female colleague, accompanied by a note about how he wanted to use it on her. He also allegedly exposed himself to another female employee after summoning her to his office, then reprimanded her for not participating in a sexual act, according to Variety.

Lauer, a host on NBC's "Today," was fired by the network earlier on Wednesday after receiving a complaint from an employee alleging "inappropriate sexual behavior." NBC News chairman Andy Lack said in a statement that it had reviewed the situation and had "reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident."

According to Variety, which interviewed dozens of current and former NBC staffers, Lauer would often partake in crude behavior, including quizzing female employees about who they had slept with, and playing the game "f---, marry, kill," in which he would name female co-hosts he wanted to sleep with.

Lauer, who is married, would often comment on women's bodies and looks, and was known to send lewd text messages, more than 10 current and former NBC employees told the outlet.

"There were a lot of consensual relationships, but that's still a problem because of the power he held," one former producer told Variety. "He couldn't sleep around town with celebrities or on the road with random people, because he's Matt Lauer and he's married. So he'd have to do it within his stable, where he exerted power, and he knew people wouldn't ever complain."

Other former employees said they were unsure of how to handle Lauer, and feared they could jeopardize their careers if they did not return Lauer's advances.

"There is such shame with Matt Lauer not liking you," one former staffer said. "I did this special with him and we are traveling and I had a cold sore on my lip and I heard him say to Bryant Gumble, 'She has this really ugly cold sore on her lip,' like that was something to be ashamed of. He was just really cruel."

Several staffers told Variety they had complained about Lauer's behavior to network executives, who they say ignored them. Both NBC and Lauer declined to comment to Variety.

SEE ALSO: Matt Lauer reportedly used a button under his desk to lock his office door after inviting women inside

DON'T MISS: The 'Today' show cast mocked workplace sexual harassment in a cringeworthy 2012 segment in which Matt Lauer pretended to be a victim

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Megyn Kelly reveals why she left Fox News

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During an interview at Business Insider's IGNITION conference in New York on Wednesday, NBC News' Megyn Kelly reflected on departure from Fox News. Following is a transcript of the video.

Megyn Kelly: It was a combination of a lot of things. First and foremost, I was not seeing my children grow up. You know, I would leave for work at 3, 3:30, which is exactly when your kids get home from school. You know they had aged into that school schedule. When I started The Kelly File, they were all they were 4, 3, and newborn. By the time I left they were two of the three were in school till 3. So I wasn't seeing them I wasn't seeing 2 out of my 3 children Monday through Friday except for that 45 minutes in the morning or you’re just yelling at them to get their backpack and their sneakers and get out, which is not meaningful. So, I wasn't happy. It wasn't good enough You know, that I'm fine being a working parent, I need to be a working parent I love my work. That wasn't good enough, the balance had tipped too far. Professionally, I really felt like there was no more growth for me at Fox News. That I had done all the things I wanted to do there.

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NBC has reportedly received 2 more complaints about 'Today' show host Matt Lauer

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  • NBC has reportedly received two new complaints about Matt Lauer, the former "Today" show co-host who was fired on Wednesday.
  • One of the new complaints is from a former NBC employee who alleged that Lauer had invited her to his office in 2001 and had sex with her.
  • Multiple current and former NBC staffers also told Variety that Lauer had engaged in rampant sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior during his time at the network.


Two more complaints have been lodged with NBC against Matt Lauer, the former "Today" show co-host who was fired on Wednesday after an employee alleged "inappropriate sexual behavior" from Lauer, The New York Times reported.

One of the new complaints was from a former employee who said Lauer had summoned her to his office in 2001 and had sex with her, according to the Times. She said she didn't report the encounter sooner because she felt ashamed and helpless, and feared losing her job.

The woman's ex-husband and friend both confirmed to the Times that she had told them previously about the encounter with Lauer.

The two new complaints were reportedly lodged after another employee came forward earlier this week and lodged a formal complaint against Lauer to NBC.

Lauer was fired less than two full days after the first complaint was lodged on Monday. NBC News chairman Andy Lack said in a statement early on Wednesday that the network had reviewed the woman's complaint and had "reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident."

Lack reportedly told NBC staff in a subsequent meeting that the initial complaint stemmed from encounters Lauer and the woman had in Sochi, Russia, during the 2014 Winter Olympics. The pair's involvement continued after they returned to New York, Lack said, two people briefed on the meeting told the Times.

Lauer's representatives did not immediately respond to the Times' requests for comment.

Also on Wednesday, Variety published an investigation including multiple allegations of sexual harassment from Lauer's current and former colleagues. They said Lauer had engaged in a pattern of inappropriate behavior during his time at NBC.

According to Variety, Lauer allegedly gifted a sex toy to one female colleague, accompanied by a note about how he wanted to use it on her. He was also accused of exposing himself to another female employee after summoning her to his office, then reprimanding her for not participating in a sexual act.

Several staffers told Variety they had complained about Lauer's behavior to network executives, who they say ignored them.

The staffers alleged that Lauer would frequently partake in crude behavior, including quizzing female employees about who they had slept with, and playing the game "f---, marry, kill," in which he would name female co-hosts he wanted to sleep with.

SEE ALSO: The 'Today' show cast mocked workplace sexual harassment in a cringeworthy 2012 segment in which Matt Lauer pretended to be a victim

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Trump's Twitter account was deactivated for 11 minutes because of a disgruntled employee — here are the best reactions

Matt Lauer breaks his silence on sexual-misconduct allegations: 'There are no words'

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  • Matt Lauer on Thursday broke his silence on the allegations of sexual misconduct and apologized after being fired from NBC.
  • He seemed to announce he would be stepping away from public life.
  • Lauer disputed some of the claims about him but did not specify which.


Matt Lauer responded to several allegations of sexual misconduct on Thursday morning, a day after his dismissal from NBC.

"There are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions," Lauer's statement began.

Lauer, the "Today" show host who was fired Wednesday morning after more than two decades with the network, was the subject of a myriad of accusations on Wednesday.

Reports emerged describing accusations that he had exposed himself, made lewd comments to female colleagues, and even used a security device to lock women into his office.

"Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized, but there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed," Lauer wrote. He did not address any specific accusations.

Lauer seemed to announce an at-least temporary retreat from public life, saying that "repairing the damage" from his deeds was "now my full time job."

"The last two days have forced me to take a very hard look at my own troubling flaws," Lauer said.

Read the full statement below:

SEE ALSO: The 'Today' show cast mocked workplace sexual harassment in a cringeworthy 2012 segment in which Matt Lauer pretended to be a victim

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Megyn Kelly heard rumors about Matt Lauer and 'hoped it wasn't true'


18 outlandish conspiracy theories Donald Trump has floated on the campaign trail and in the White House

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In May 2011, reporters swarmed now-President Donald Trump as he exited the Hyatt in Washington, DC, after the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Many wanted a response from Trump, who had just watched President Obama deliver jokes that night about Trump's constant questioning of the legitimacy of Obama's birth certificate.

Over six years later, Trump is still not convinced of the legitimacy of Obama's birth certificate. But this was perhaps the first of numerous debunked or unverified conspiracy theories that Trump has entertained during his time in the political spotlight.

Throughout the 2016 campaign and while in the White House, Trump has floated theories fueled by the conspiratorial-minded corners of supermarket tabloids and the internet, something unprecedented in modern politics. He's often used them as weapons against his opponents.

Here are 18 of the most notable conspiracy theories Trump has entertained:

SEE ALSO: Theresa May condemns Trump for retweeting anti-Muslim hate videos from the British far right

DON'T MISS: Sarah Huckabee Sanders says it doesn't matter if the anti-Muslim videos Trump retweeted are real because 'the threat is real'

Questions about Ted Cruz's father's potential ties to President John F. Kennedy's assassin.

On the eve of the Indiana primary, Trump attempted to undermine former Republican presidential rival Ted Cruz's father's legitimacy by parroting an unverified National Enquirer story.

It claimed Rafael Cruz was photographed in the early 1960s handing out pro-Fidel Castro leaflets with President John F. Kennedy's assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald.

The Cruz campaign denounced the piece as "garbage."



Questions about President Obama's birth certificate.

While mulling a potential 2012 presidential bid, Trump became the most high-profile figure to promote the rumors suggesting that President Obama was not born in the US.

Trump claimed he'd deployed private investigators who "could not believe what they're finding" about Obama's place of birth.

He also repeatedly clashed with reporters who pushed him on the issue. During one contentious interview, he told ABC's George Stephanopoulos that he'd been "co-opted" by "Obama and his minions" when the anchor tried to push back on Trump's claims.

When Obama eventually released his long-form birth certificate, Trump questioned the document's authenticity

Trump has since continued to push the conspiracy theory in recent months during his presidency, according to advisors who spoke with the New York Times. One sitting US senator echoed these reports.

"[Trump] has had a hard time letting go of his claim that Mr. Obama was not born in the United States," the senator told the Times.



Questions about a former Bill Clinton aide's suicide.

After Vince Foster, a former aide to President Bill Clinton, was found dead in 1993, various law-enforcement agencies and independent counsels determined he committed suicide.

But Foster's death spawned conspiracy theorists who questioned whether the Clintons themselves were involved in Foster's death.

In an interview with The Washington Post, Trump suggested Foster's death was "very fishy."

"He had intimate knowledge of what was going on," Trump said of Foster's role in the White House. "He knew everything that was going on, and then all of a sudden he committed suicide."

He added: "I don’t bring [Foster’s death] up because I don’t know enough to really discuss it. I will say there are people who continue to bring it up because they think it was absolutely a murder. I don’t do that because I don’t think it’s fair."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Dave Franco explains why he's done worrying about being in the shadow of his brother James

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  • "The Disaster Artist" was the first time Dave Franco and his brother James had a substantial amount of screen time together in a movie.
  • Franco shared how "in character" as Tommy Wiseau his brother was while directing the movie.
  • He also revealed how losing 20 pounds to play a role in his upcoming Netflix movie, "6 Balloons," led to some physical and emotional problems.


For most of his career Dave Franco has carefully navigated a path that stayed out of the very large wake left by his brother James. The younger Franco slowly found his niche through building credits doing zany comedies like “21 Jump Street” and “Neighbors.” But when his brother came to him about the two making a movie together about the cult classic “The Room,” it was an offer too good to pass up.

“The Disaster Artist” (opening in limited release on Friday and wider the following week) is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the 2003 low budget movie, “The Room,” which is regarded as one of the worst movie ever made. James directs and also stars as Tommy Wiseau, the bizarre writer-director of “The Room,” while Dave plays Tommy’s best friend and fellow aspiring actor, Greg Sestero, who follows Wiseau on the journey to make “The Room.” Though hilarious at times, the movie’s backbone is the bond the two friends have and it's all pulled off perfectly by the brothers’ performances.

Dave sat down with Business Insider to talk about making this unique buddy comedy with his brother. He also clarified how far James took being "in character" as Wiseau while directing “The Disaster Artist,” and explained what drove him to lose 20 pounds for an upcoming Netflix movie.

Jason Guerrasio: What was it about "The Disaster Artist" that not only made you want to work with your brother but also start a production company with him, Ramona Films?

Dave Franco: When I first started acting I did make a conscious choice to distance myself from him work-wise just because I wanted to paint my own path, not be referred to as James Franco's little brother for the rest of my life. But after a while it just got to the point where I was like "he's my brother and I love him and I respect him," and with “The Disaster Artist” the dynamic between these characters just felt right. I understood these guys. I'm an actor, I understand the struggle of an actor starting out. And I can relate to the idea of how important it is to have an ally and someone who believes in you and encourages you.

In terms of the production company, my brother and I are very drawn toward projects that do feel slightly outside the box. And at the same time are accessible enough that they could draw a slightly wider audience.

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Guerrasio: Starting the production company, did the idea come during production?

Franco: It was during post production when he started to invite me to the edit room. I quickly realized we share a brain and we had this shorthand where we get each other. We really modeled the production around what Seth Rogen has been doing forever. What Judd Apatow does. They create these very collaborative environments where everyone has a say and no one is more powerful that anyone else and the best idea always wins. 

Guerrasio: Did you guys go as far as Seth and Judd go in videotaping the audience's reaction at early screenings to see if a joke didn't land right or something could be tweaked in the edit?

Franco: I don't think they videotaped. And the reason for that is that works best for a full-on comedy. This is very funny at points but in regards to tone it's most similar to something like "Boogie Nights." A bunch of crazy characters in strange circumstances but everyone is playing it as straight as possible and the humor comes from that. During our test screenings we were most concerned if the friendship between Tommy and Greg was playing. That's the core of our story. Because without the friendship it had the potential of just being an extended "SNL" skit. 

Guerrasio: Were you into "The Room" before all of this?

Franco: My brother and I were both pretty late to the game. He actually read Greg Sestero’s book before he even saw "The Room," and he's probably the only person on the planet who did it in that order. But then he reached out to me and said, "If you haven't seen 'The Room' watch it immediately, I think we need to make a movie about it." So at the time I was working in Boston so I watched "The Room" in a hotel room by myself, which is not the right way to watch that movie for the first time. There's so much coming at you need to turn to someone and say, "What the f--- is going on?" So I finished that viewing and just feeling very unsettled, to be honest. But soon after I went to one of the midnight screenings where the audience is throwing stuff at the screen, reciting every line. And I then immediately understood why "The Room" is such a cult movie. Since then I've seen the movie roughly 25 times, which is more than any movie I've seen in existence. [Laughs.]

The Room TPW Films

Guerrasio: I talked to your wife, Alison Brie, for "The Little Hours," and she said you also did the book on tape of Greg's book.

Franco: Yeah. And I would recommend the book on tape for this because it's Greg reading it and he has a great Tommy impersonation. I sat down with Greg a handful of times before we started filming and through production, and one of the things I asked him was during production of "The Room" if he ever thought it had a chance of being a good movie. And he claims that he did not but I don't fully believe him just because as a young actor all you care about is getting on a set. When you're on set you almost have to have this blind optimism and believe that whatever you're working on could be great. Even from the outside everyone can see it's objectively bad. I've been in those scenarios. I've been on set and everything is going smoothly to the point where people were talking about the movie being nominated for awards and I bought into the hype. Then the movie came out and not only was a it not good but it was a full-on piece of sh--. It was probably the worst thing I’ve ever done. It just makes you think about the fact you do anything creative you have to give all of yourself over to the process. There are going to be moments when you question whether or not what you're doing is brilliant or if it's a total disaster.

Guerrasio: Now I'm trying to think back on the movies you've done to figure out which one you think is the worst thing you've ever done.

Franco: [Laughs.]

Guerrasio: Anyway, how did you and James work on the characters? Did you want to rehearse with him before shooting?

Franco: We didn't really rehearse too much beforehand just because his style of filmmaking, like Seth's style, is very loose and improvisational. Yes, we had an incredible script to work off of but we always kept it loose. 

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Guerrasio: So going into shooting he gave you no head's up that he would be being in character as Tommy behind the camera as director?

Franco: I don't think he knew. I think he just fell into it and it was just easier to stay in character instead of bouncing back and forth between Tommy and James.

Guerrasio: On the first day was he just James on set?

Franco: No, from day one he was Tommy. There was definitely an adjustment period. He can articulate this better than me, but I do think a huge reason why he did this was because he didn't want to lose the Tommy voice. Yes, he stayed in character while he directed but that didn't mean he adopted Tommy's personality. He was still James but he was doing the Tommy voice. He wasn't a dictator on set. 

Guerrasio: Have you ever gotten into a role in your career where you're so into it it takes a while to snap out of it? 

Franco: I’ve never been the type of actor who comes home at the end of the day and goes, "I can't get rid of my part." But, I have a movie coming out early next year for Netflix called "6 Balloons" where I played a heroin addict and so I lost 20 pounds. 

Guerrasio: For you, that's kind of scary.

Franco: Yeah, I'm not a big guy. So when you lose that much weight it depresses you and I was full-on depressed. I remember at one point my wife saying, "You're not yourself, you're not fun to be around." And I was like, "I'm f---ing starving! What do you want from me?" But on set I also wasn't fun to be around. I wasn't really interacting with anyone. I was in the corner by myself, miserable. That was the most I ever got deep into a character. I'm glad I did it. It was the hardest role I've ever done and it scared the hell out of me but I think that's a good thing as an actor. To go into something that makes you uncomfortable.

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Guerrasio: Do you feel you could ever do that again?

Franco: Not for a long time. I almost really f---ed up my health. Not to get too dark, I was running all day every day to lose weight and I ended up messing up my knee to the point that when we finished production I had to go to physical therapy for a couple of months.

Guerrasio: I mean, we've heard the stories from Robert De Niro to Christian Bale, of the losing and gaining of weight for roles. I would think for every actor there’s a wonder if you can take it to that limit. 

Franco: I know. And it was very rewarding but I don't need to transform my body like that for a long time. While I was in it I do remember looking at a lot of pictures of Christian Bale throughout his career, he's losing weight or gaining weight, so that was inspiring. [Laughs.] "If he can do this 15 times I can do it once."

Guerrasio: So, back to "The Disaster Artist," what was Tommy and Greg's reaction to the movie when they first saw it?

Franco: They saw an early screening, even before the South by Southwest work-in-progress. We were more nervous about Tommy's reaction than Greg's. They both loved it but after Greg saw it he was so taken by it that he went off and for the next four days wrote an entire script for him and Tommy to star in. So since then they've filmed this new project, called "Best F(r)iends," and little did we know that "The Disaster Artist" is part two of "The Room" trilogy. [Laughs.] 

Guerrasio: Wow. So what's going forward for the production company? Are you going to produce? Direct?

Franco: I can't get into many details but all the projects are all over the place in genre and size of budget. But the unifying aspect of all of them is they do feel unique. I'm having so much fun. As much as I love acting and I hope to be doing it for a long time, it almost feels more natural for me to be a producer. I came into all of this because I'm a fan of movies and I wanted to find any way I could to be a part of it all. I happened to take the acting route but it could have been a million different ways in. Now that I'm producing it's just really fun for me to work with people that I really admire and put people together who I think will work well together. Just having a little more control.

SEE ALSO: "The Disaster Artist" is the most fun you'll have at the movies this year, and James Franco should get Oscar attention

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NOW WATCH: Sean Astin describes one thing you probably never knew about 'The Goonies'

Here's what Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, and 13 more of the busiest people in the world eat for breakfast

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• Scientists aren't necessarily convinced breakfast is the most important meal of the day, Tech Insider reported.

• Still, many successful people take the time to eat a balanced breakfast.

• Others, however, like Bill Gates and Donald Trump typically abandon the meal altogether.



What goes into a breakfast of champions?

Well, the science isn't exactly settled on whether or not breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating breakfast doesn't necessarily even help you lose weight, according to Tech Insider.

Still, tons of successful people opt to make breakfast a part of their busy schedules, with a few notable exceptions.

Here's a look at some of the typical breakfast routines of successful people:

SEE ALSO: A Marine veteran says a morning ritual he picked up in boot camp primes him for success every day

Virgin Group founder Richard Branson prefers to dig into fruit salad and muesli in the morning while spending time with his family.

Source: CNBC, Business Insider

 



Popeyes CEO Cheryl Bachelder's morning meal depends on whether she's traveling or not. She has said she prefers steel-cut oatmeal when she's at home, and bacon, scrambled eggs, and toast when she's on the go. But either way, she always reaches for some coffee, too.

Source: Business Insider



Singer and actor Justin Timberlake told Bon Appetit he goes for a scrambled egg along with flax-seed waffles spread with almond butter before his morning workout.

Source: CNBCBon Appetit



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons has stepped down from his companies after a new sexual assault allegation

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  • Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons has stepped down from his companies after a new sexual assault allegation.
  • In an article for The Hollywood Reporter, screenwriter Jenny Lumet alleged that Simmons sexually assaulted her in 1991. 
  • Simmons was accused of sexual assault a week earlier by former model Keri Claussen Khalighi, but he denied the allegations.
  • Simmons said in a statement that Lumet's "feelings of fear and intimidation are real," and that he would step down from his various businesses.

 

Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons has stepped down from his various companies after a new sexual assault allegation, Business Insider can confirm. 

The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday published a letter that screenwriter Jenny Lumet ("Rachel Getting Married") wrote to Simmons, alleging that Simmons sexually assaulted her in 1991. 

Last week, Simmons was accused of sexual assault by former model Keri Claussen Khalighi in 1991, and Simmons "completely and unequivocally" denied the allegations.

In the THR article, Lumet wrote that she met Simmons around 1987, when Simmons and Rick Rubin where working on a film with rap group Run-DMC. She said Simmons "pursued [her], lightly, on and off" over the next four years, and that she "rebuffed" him.

Lumet went on to describe a disturbing encounter with Simmons in 1991, when she was 24.

She said Simmons offered her a ride home from the Manhattan restaurant Indochine one night, and that Simmons' driver locked the doors of his car after Simmons told the driver "No" multiple times when Lumet asked to be dropped off at her apartment. Instead, Simmons took her to his apartment. 

"I felt dread and disorientation. I wanted to go home. I said I wanted to go home," Lumet wrote. "I didn’t recognize the man next to me. I didn’t know if the situation would turn violent. I remember thinking that I must be crazy; I remember hoping that the Russell I knew would return any moment."

Lumet said Simmons used his "size to maneuver [her]" into his apartment building and up to his apartment bedroom, where she said she protested and then "simply did what I was told."

"There was penetration. At one point you were only semi-erect and appeared frustrated. Angry? I remember being afraid that you would deem that my fault and become violent. I did not know if you were angry, but I was afraid that you were," Lumet wrote.

You can read the full letter over at The Hollywood Reporter.

In response to the article, Simmons has stepped down from his various businesses, including Rush Communications. His representatives provided Business Insider with the following statement, in which Simmons says that Lumet's "feelings of fear and intimidation are real":

"I have been informed with great anguish of Jenny Lumet’s recollection about our night together in 1991. I know Jenny and her family and have seen her several times over the years since the evening she described.  While her memory of that evening is very different from mine, it is now clear to me that her feelings of fear and intimidation are real. While I have never been violent, I have been thoughtless and insensitive in some of my relationships over many decades and I sincerely and humbly apologize.

This is a time of great transition. The voices of the voiceless, those who have been hurt or shamed, deserve and need to be heard.  As the corridors of power inevitably make way for a new generation, I don’t want to be a distraction so I am removing myself from the businesses that I founded. The companies will now be run by a new and diverse generation of extraordinary executives who are moving the culture and consciousness forward. I will convert the studio for yogic science into a not-for-profit center of learning and healing. As for me, I will step aside and commit myself to continuing my personal growth, spiritual learning and above all to listening."

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NOW WATCH: Sean Astin talks about the most shocking scene from ‘Stranger Things 2’

Sexual harassment isn't a Hollywood, tech, or media issue — it affects everyone

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  • Sexual harassment doesn't just affect the Hollywood elite, major tech companies, or TV journalists.
  • Allegations of sexual harassment have impacted most industries.
  • A new poll from MSN shows just how far-reaching the issue is.


Sexual harassment in the workplace isn't an industry issue. Nor is it a toxic workplace issue. It's an issue that affects literally everyone. 

number of industries have been implicated in the wake of producer Harvey Weinstein's alleged sexual misconduct, including Hollywood, politicssports, and media. Before that, sexual harassment at work made headlines with tech's "bro-culture" problem. And before Matt Lauer and Charlie Rose were accused of sexual misconduct, the media industry faced criticism with Roger Ailes and Bill O'Reilly's oustings. And the list goes on.

When pretty much every industry out there is involved, it's naive to simply point the finger at these institutions and damn them for perpetuating a systemic issue.

To be sure, toxic workplace cultures are partially to blame — companies with these values are far more susceptible to sexual harassment.

But don't let these characterizations lull you into a false sense of security. Sexual harassment is a problem that affects everyone — not just those in high-profile positions or industries.

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Sexual harassment is more rampant than you want to think

Overall, about one in three people (31%) in the US admit to having been sexually harassed at work, according to a poll from Business Insider's partner, MSN.

MSN polls its readers and then uses machine learning to model how a representative sample of the US would have responded, using big data, such as the Census. It's as accurate as a traditional, scientific survey.

For women, the situation is drastically more dire.

Overall, 45% of women polled said they have been sexually harassed at work. This translates to about 33.6 million women in the US.

The group that experienced the most harassment were women between the ages 30 and 44 — almost half (49%) said they had been sexually harassed at work. Not far behind, 47% of women ages 45 to 64 said they were sexually harassed at work, followed by 41% of women ages 18 to 20, and finally 40% of women 65 or older.

Sexual harassment at work doesn't just affect women.

While 15% of men said they had been sexually harassed at work, a higher proportion of men between the ages of 30 and 44 said they had been sexually harassed in the workplace: 22%.

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Speaking up rarely ends well for the victim 

Former Fox News Channel host Gretchen Carlson stunned the media world when she filed a sexual-harassment lawsuit against Fox News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes in 2016.

In her lawsuit, Carlson said Ailes repeatedly sexually harassed her, and that she was fired from her job of 11 years for turning down his sexual advances.

The lawsuit ultimately led to Ailes' resignation from the network, which he had run since its founding in 1996, and Carlson settled the suit for a reported $20 million in 2016.

But Carlson did not walk away from the accusation unscathed.

At Fortune's Most Powerful Women (MPW) Summit in October, the TV journalist said she faced concentrated backlash on social media when she came forward, and many people close to her distanced themselves. "You find out who your friends are in a big way," she said. "It can be a very alone experience."

Carlson also said that, for many people who confront sexual harassment head-on, the fallout can often be steep:

"First of all, if you do come forward, you'll be labeled a 'troublemaker' or a 'bitch.' More importantly, you won't be believed. And, some people have even suggested that you do it for money or fame."

Carlson said it takes courage to put your career on the line and report sexual harassment in the workplace.

"When you know that that's the culture that we still live in ... it's the most important decision of your life to dig deep for that courage, to know that you might torpedo everything that you've worked so hard for," she said.

It's unsurprising, then, that 73% of the women who said they had been sexually harassed at work also said that they never reported it. Of the men that said they were sexually harassed at work, 81% said they never reported it.

Bill O'Reilly

Sexual harassment can happen anywhere, anytime, and be perpetrated by anyone

Certain factors may make organizations or institutions more susceptible to instances of sexual harassment.

A 2015 report from researchers at Kent State University and the University of Texas at Tyler found that the "prevalence of male norms in the male-dominated environment may result in a more hostile workplace for women who are perceived by men as violators of the gender norms."

But as Adam Bear and Joshua Knobe wrote in The New York Times, when normally inappropriate or unacceptable actions continue unabated, people tend to adapt their mindset, and sexual harassment becomes normalized and seen as less worthy of outrage.

This could happen literally anywhere — and in many places, it seems that it already has.

When asked to rate their employers' efforts against sexual harassment, 42% of the people MSN polled overall said their employers have done enough, while 26% said they haven't.

But when you ask women, who are disproportionately more likely to experience sexual harassment at work, the number of people satisfied with their employers' approach to sexual harassment at work drops to 36%, while 33% of women say their employers haven't done enough.

What's more, with 31% of the American workforce reporting they've been sexually harassed at work, if you work at a company with at least three people, odds are either you or one of your coworkers has been sexually harassed at work.

While this means you may not be affected directly, you are undoubtedly affected indirectly by the financial and emotional damage sexual harassment's causes.

According to Working Woman Magazine, a typical Fortune 500 corporation blighted by sexual harassment incidents can expect to lose $14.02 million adjusted for inflation annually from absenteeism, lower productivity, increased health-care costs, poor morale, and employee turnover.

And it cannot be good for any employer's bottom line when sexual harassment settlements and legal fees themselves cost the company tens of millions of dollars.

In fact, thanks to the growing number of allegations, Business Insider's Lauren Lyons Cole reports that some companies are purchasing employee practices liability insurance to protect against the financial risk of sexual harassment.

These policies have become a multi-billion dollar industry, with companies collectively paying over $2 billion in EPLI premiums last year.

"Claims are so common now that it's more or less part of the cost of doing business," New Jersey employment lawyer Stephanie Gironda told Business Insider.

SEE ALSO: 6 signs you're being sexually harassed at work and might not realize it

DON'T MISS: A Facebook exec says the best way to remove bias against mothers is to force men to take equal parental leave

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