Why Bill O’Reilly Doesn’t Think He Could Watch a Movie About Kermit Gosnell
Rob Bluey /
Bill O’Reilly says he’s proud of his reporting on Kermit Gosnell and glad to see the Philadelphia abortionist serving a life sentence in prison. But the Fox News Channel host isn’t sure he’d want to watch a feature film about the man some call America’s biggest serial killer.
“It would be hard to sit in the theater and watch this horrendous doctor murder these babies,” O’Reilly said last night. “I don’t know if many people could sit through that.”
“Gosnell” has generated more than $1.25 million in financing pledges through the crowdfunding website Indiegogo. That makes it the most successful film project ever on Indiegogo and also the largest non-celebrity film on any crowdfunding site, the movie’s producers say.
Despite the donations, producer Phelim McAleer said the crowdfunding effort has received scant media attention. He and many others voiced a similar complaint about Gosnell’s murder trial a year ago.
>>> Check Out: Filmmaker Explains Why Media Didn’t Cover Gosnell Case
A few Hollywood actors are speaking out about the film project. “Hercules” star Kevin Sorbo and his wife Sam taped a video voicing their support and Nick Searcy, an actor on TV’s “Justified,” lent his backing.
Appearing on “The O’Reilly Factor” last night, Searcy found himself defending the production against a skeptical O’Reilly. Searcy noted that Hollywood doesn’t shy away from violence and shouldn’t ignore Gosnell’s crimes.
“It’s a story about one of the [most] prolific serial killers in American history,” Searcy told O’Reilly. “It’s gruesome, it’s violent, it’s gory, it’s horrific, it’s bloody. Hollywood loves those kinds of things.”
As for Gosnell’s crimes, Searcy said, “This went on for 30 years with the support of a lot of government programs. For this sort of situation to continue, as long as it did, and for Gosnell to continue to do the things he did for so long, it says a lot about society.”
Last May, Gosnell was found guilty of murder for the deaths of babies at his filthy, poorly staffed Philadelphia clinic. If the producers attract enough financing, “Gosnell” will document his 40-year career in the abortion business, a period when thousands of babies likely died on his watch.
Nearly 13,000 people have pledged contributions to “Gosnell” so far. The producers’ goal is to raise $2.1 million by May 12.
This story was produced by The Foundry’s news team. Nothing here should be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of The Heritage Foundation.