Meet Former Fox News Anchor Shep Smith's Boyfriend, Gio Graziano
They've been together for seven years.
Instagram Shep Smith shocked the country when he announced on his popular Fox News show that he was stepping down. Reports say that Smith had grown tired of the politics at the network and after a war of words with Tucker Carlson, he just didn't want to do it anymore. Smith was often viewed as the sole voice of reason at the network full of right-wing, pro-Trump pundits. Because of a non-compete clause, it will be some time before Smith returns to the airwaves on another network. In the meantime, he'll hopefully enjoy some downtime with his longtime partner, boyfriend Gio Graziano. Smith referred to his boyfriend in his heartfelt farewell speech on Fox News. The two have been a couple since 2012 and in a rare glimpse into his personal life, Smith told Time in 2018: "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."
So ... who is Shep Smith's boyfriend? Here's what we know about Gio Graziano:
1. A much younger man
Shep Smith, 55, is dating Gio Graziano, 32. Graziano's LinkedIn profile reveals he also worked at Fox News. He started as an intern at Fox5 in Washington, D.C. in 2008 after graduating from Penn State University. He moved on to Fox News as a production assistant in 2009, eventually becoming Smith's production assistant from 2011 to 2012. In October 2012, Graziano moved on to be an Associate Producer at Fox Business Network. He no longer works there and hasn't for quite some time, according to Julianna Mauriello, a representative from Fox Business Network.
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2. Conflict of interest
The timing of Graziano's move from Shep Smith's show to Fox Business Network is interesting. Gawker reported back in 2013 that Graziano was moved to his new position after he and Smith became romantically involved. As Graziano was a subordinate of Smith's, dating him would be a conflict of interest. That was avoided by moving Graziano into a new position.
3. Their old favorite haunt
Back in 2013, multiple outlets including Gawker and Slate reported on Smith and Graziano's frequent visits to a Manhattan bar called Bathtub Gin. In fact, during in one of those visits, Smith had an epic outburst which led to Gawker outing Smith as gay. Apparently, on the night in question, Smith screamed at a waitress to "get my f*cking drink!" Gawker covered it by writing in part: "Smith had arrived earlier that night with a straight couple and his own regular date, a muscular 6-foot-2 30-something white male, whom Bathtub Gin employees refer to as “'his boyfriend.'"
4. When did Smith come out?
Despite Gawker's attempts to out Smith, it wasn't until a 2017 speech at the University of Mississippi, his alma mater, that Smith addressed his sexuality publicly. In April 2017, Smith said regarding his sexuality: “I don’t think about it. It’s not a thing. I go to work. I manage a lot of people. I cover the news. I deal with holy hell around me. I go home to the man I’m in love with.”
5. Roger Ailes homophobia
There have long been rumors that Roger Ailes was a homophobe but Smith has said he never felt that from the former Fox News chief. In fact, in his on-air eulogy for Ailes in 2017, he said: "Being in the public eye is rewarding, but comes with many challenges. Roger knew that. He would try to prepare me for that and lead me through it. When a blackmailer entered my life and the lives of my family, he held my hand and saw me to the other side. When details of my personal life became public, he supported me."
6. His farewell speech
In his final episode of Shepard Smith Reporting, Shep Smith gave a heartfelt monologue about how much his show and the Fox News family meant to him. He joined the network in 1996 just before it launched. In that speech he mentioned Gio and Lucia (his dog), saying he will be “able to see more of Gio and Lucia, and our friends and family, and we will see what comes along.”
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.