Geraldo Rivera gets torched online for his bizarre defense of Matt Lauer

Fox News' Geraldo Rivera decided to offer somewhat of a defense of former NBC host Matt Lauer from the sexual allegations made against him, and the internet did not appreciate his commentary.

Here's what Geraldo said about Matt Lauer's firing

"Sad about [Matt Lauer,] great guy, highly skilled & empathetic w guests & a real gentleman to my family & me," he tweeted.

"News is a flirty business & it seems like current epidemic of [sex harassment allegations] may be criminalizing courtship & conflating it w predation," he added. "What about [Garrison Keillor?]"

Lauer was fired Wednesday morning because of sexual harassment allegations that had been reported to NBC News. The details of the accusations were salacious and sensationalistic.

"A jerk's a jerk in dating," he added in another tweet.  "[Sexual harassment] should be confined to situations where superior imposes himself on subordinate who feels unable to complain because of power of perp or feared consequences to victim's employment."

"Shouldn't be used to get even w bad bosses or hated ex's," he concluded.

What was the reaction to Geraldo's comment?

Commentators on social media thought his comment was bizarre and revealed more about him than it did about Lauer.

The inevitable apology

Rivera eventually apologized about six hours after the original tweet.

UPDATE: 

A spokesperson for Fox News Channel reached out to TheBlaze and had this comment about Rivera's statements:

"Geraldo's tweets do not reflect the views of FOX News or its management. We were troubled by his comments and are addressing them with him."