All The Dirty Deets On The Shep Smith/Tucker Carlson Feud At Fox News — And Why Shep Left
Shep Smith couldn't keep reporting the lies the network wanted him to.
Instagram Longtime Fox News anchor Shep Smith resigned from the network after a public feud with fellow Fox News talking head Tucker Carlson. Smith had been with the network since its launch in 1996. He was the host of Shepard Smith Reporting seven days a week for many years. Let's just lay it on the line — Shep Smith was the only anchor at Fox News that was telling the truth. He refused to report lies and propaganda designed to make the man residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue look good. And the rumors around Shep Smith leaving have to do with fellow Fox anchor Tucker Carlson. So what happened with Tucker Carlson and Shep Smith? What's at the root of the Shep Smith/Tucker Carlson feud?
1. Smith's resignation
On Friday, October 11, Smith shocked his viewers by announcing that it was his last day at Fox News. He released the following statement: “Recently I asked the company to allow me to leave Fox News and begin a new chapter. After requesting that I stay, they graciously obliged. The opportunities afforded this guy from small-town Mississippi have been many. It’s been an honor and a privilege to report the news each day to our loyal audience in context and with perspective, without fear or favor. I’ve worked with the most talented, dedicated and focused professionals I know and I’m proud to have anchored their work each day — I will deeply miss them.”
On air he said: “This is my last newscast here. Thank you for watching today and over the decades as I traveled to many of your communities and anchored this program, Studio B, and Fox Report.”
2. His resignation allegedly comes after a tussle with Carlson
Things have been boiling over for Smith, 55, at Fox News for a while now. Back at the end of September, Smith interviewed Fox News regular Andrew Napolitano. Joe DiGenova, who appeared on Tucker Carlson's show, soon after called Napolitano "a fool." The next day, Smith called Carlson's show an "opinion show" for not defending Napolitano. “Attacking our colleague who’s here to offer legal assessments on our air is repugnant,” Smith said on his show. Carlson then called Smith "partisan," which is high irony considering who it's coming from and what network he works for.
3. He was fed up with the Pro-Trump atmosphere at Fox
Business Insider reports that Smith decided to leave Fox News after many disagreements with the pro-Trump personalities at Fox such as Carlson, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham. An insider at Fox News reported that the network's failure to defend either Smith or Napolitano was a big part of his decision to ask the network to let him out of his lucrative contract.
4. Was he forced out?
Other people at the network feel Shep Smith was forced out. After all, Smith was the only person at Fox News willing to criticize Trump and his administration. There are rumors circulating that Smith was reprimanded by Fox executives for calling out the lies and propaganda being spread at Fox News by its pundits. Smith spoke out many times about being the sole voice of reason at the network, the only one that was willing to cut through and expose his colleagues' lies. They reportedly told him he had to stop that and get in line. He quit instead.
5. He isn't the first to leave
If Shep Smith left Fox News because he could no longer stand the pro-Trump at all costs direction of the network, he is in good company. Reporter Carl Cameron also left the network under similar circumstances and has been highly critical of Fox News ever since. Rather than behaving like a corporate entity, Fox News decided to bash him in the press. On Saturday, a Fox News spokesperson issued the following statement: “Carl Cameron left the network because he was no longer able to show up to work each day — he has a very short memory for our endless compassion, patience and graciousness in dealing with his multitude of personal struggles.”
6. Smith's coming out
Smith is openly gay and in 2017 he spoke to Time about his longtime boyfriend, saying: “I have a longtime boyfriend and we’re as happy as we can be. We live a very normal life and go to dinner and go to games and see his family and see my family." Smith has been in a relationship with Gio Graziano for seven years.
Amy Lamare is a Los Angeles based writer and editor covering entertainment, pop culture, beauty, fashion, fitness, technology, and the intersection of technology, business, and philanthropy. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook.