FOX News Channel host and radio host Bill O'Reilly suggested that representatives of the United Nations applauded former President Bill Clinton in the wake of his impeachment proceedings because “in France, if you have four mistresses they like you better.” O'Reilly was referring to Clinton's November 17 interview with ABC News anchor Peter Jennings, in which Clinton stated: "[W]hen I got a standing ovation at the United Nations, from the whole world, the American networks were showing my grand jury testimony."

From the November 21 edition of The Radio Factor with Bill O'Reilly:

O'REILLY: But, by pointing overseas for validation, I mean that's ridiculous. People overseas don't respect American rule of law. They don't know what perjury is. They don't care what perjury is. They don't care what campaign finance violations are. They don't care what pardons are for money. They don't care. You know, in France, if you have four mistresses they like you better. All right? So, I mean that's just where they're coming from.

As Media Matters for America has noted, O'Reilly made a similar statement on October 1, claiming that Clinton was popular overseas, “particularly [with] the French, because he had a mistress and all people loved him. They love that mistress stuff over there.”

On October 28, O'Reilly settled a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by a former associate producer for FOX News Channel's The O'Reilly Factor.