Geraldo Rivera’s 9 Most Shocking Career Highlights and Lowlights (Videos)

Fox News senior correspondent had an emotional reunion with daughter following Paris terrorist attacks

"FOX & Friends" All American Concert Series - Rodney Atkins
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 24: Reporter Geraldo Rivera appears on the "FOX & Friends" All American Concert Series at FOX Studios on August 24, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Father-daughter reunion:

Rivera dramatically reunited with his daughter on live TV in Paris following the series of terrorist attacks in the French capital. His daughter, who lives in the city, was at the Stade de France when a cell of terrorists affiliated with ISIS set off explosions nearby.

Trayvon Martin:

The Fox News host found himself in hot water in 2012 when he blamed the death of Trayvon Martin on the teenager’s choice of apparel. Rivera went on to say that “dark-skinned” people should make an effort not to dress “gangsta.”

“The hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin’s death as George Zimmerman was,” he said.

Shirtless selfie:

The 70-year-old Fox News host was roundly mocked on social media when he posted a shirtless selfie on his Twitter account. He later explained on his syndicated radio show that he was drunk and lonely when he posted the photo at 2:30 in the morning.

Al Capone’s Vault:

Rivera famously promised to open a mysterious vault belonging to Al Capone on live TV in a heavily hyped 1986 special. However, once the vault was open, Rivera found little more than dirt inside, making the special one of the biggest live TV disappointments in history.

Casey Anthony “slut”:

During coverage of the trial of Casey Anthony, the woman accused of killing her daughter Caylee, Rivera made waves when he called the accused a “slut” in his report. “I think it will end the prosecution case with a bang, so to speak, to show that this was a selfish, narcissistic, self-involved slut,” he said.

Giving away troop location in Iraq:

Rivera was kicked out of Iraq in 2003 when he accidentally gave away the location and movements of U.S. troops during the war. He was was traveling with the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army as a war correspondent when he knelt down into the sand on live TV and drew a map of an upcoming operation.

White Supremacist brawl:

In 1988, Rivera hosted a debate on his talk show “Geraldo” between white supremacists, black leaders and Jewish activists. It wasn’t long before the segment devolved into a during which the host’s nose was broken.

Willowbrook documentary:

In one of his career highlights, Rivera won a Peabody award for a 1972 documentary called “Willowbrook: The Last Great Disgrace,” which captured the horrible conditions at a school for the mentally challenged in New York.

“Obama is dead”:

In the race to report on the death of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, Rivera mistakenly reported the death of the president, when he mistakenly said, “Obama is dead.”

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