Bill O'Reilly has earned himself a fresh wave of criticism, but this time it's not coming from political pundits.
The Fox News host of the O'Reilly Factor bought a decades-old cottage in the town of Montauk for roughly $8 million last year - only to tear it down.
Located in the East Hamptons, the house, known as Abbey Cottage, was built for $700 during World War II by James Abbe, a magazine photographer, according to the Daily Mail. At the time the place was built, building materials were rationed, prompting Abbe to construct it from old sailing ships and a demolished mansion. A modest 600 sq ft, the two-bedroom home was built on 1.5 acres.
"At this point, it was so unique, I can't even remember the last time something like it was torn down," Theresa Eurell, a broker at Town & Country Real Estate who had the listing, told New York Daily News.
According to Eurell, O'Reilly attempted to work with the local historical society to save the house, "But doing so would have required plowing through much of the property, a sacrifice the cable news kingpin was unwilling to make."
New foundations have reportedly already been laid.
"He seems to say it's going to be modest home, but that was through his architect," Eurell said.
According to the Daily Mail, Abbey Cottage is the latest victim in a series of demolishes that have taken place in the neighborhood as developers work to make room for newer homes.
"It remains to be seen if the home will be as outsized and out-of-place as he is," one local of told NY Daily News of O'Reilly.
For pictures of the home, click here.
