Anchor Shepard Smith exited Fox News after being sick of clashing with his primetime colleagues, sources claim.
Smith, who has been the network’s most vocal critic of President Trump, requested a way out of his $15million a year contract after growing tired of being attacked by other hosts, a Fox insider tells the Daily Beast.
And while an effort was reportedly made by the network to keep him, the insider claims it was Smith’s choice to leave Friday.
Most recently, Smith was openly mocked by Tucker Carlson on his show for calling an attack on one their colleagues ‘repugnant.’
Smith will be replaced by a rotating line-up of hosts until a permanent replacement is selected to take over at the 3pm hour.
But former Fox News reporter Carl Cameron told MSNBC that ‘it will be telling’ to see who steps into Smith’s slot.
Shepard Smith is leaving Fox News after joining the network in 1996 he announced on Friday, just 18 months after signing a $15million deal
Sources say he was ‘sick’ of being attacked by his primetime colleagues, most recently Tucker Carlson who mocked Smith on air
Smith, who is Fox News’ most vocal critic of President Trump, also been ridiculed by hosts Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham
The midday anchor, who had been with the network since its inception in 1996, stepped down from his role as chief news anchor and managing editor of the network’s breaking news unit and anchor of Shepard Smith Reporting effective immediately, the network said in a statement Friday.
‘Shep is one of the premier newscasters of his generation and his extraordinary body of work is among the finest journalism in the industry,’ said Fox News Media president Jay Wallace.
‘His integrity and outstanding reporting from the field helped put Fox News on the map and there is simply no better breaking news anchor who has the ability to transport a viewer to a place of conflict, tragedy, despair or elation through his masterful delivery.’
The decision to exit Fox News was made by Smith, and only Smith, publicists for both the anchor and the network said on Friday.
Multiple sources tell DailyMail.com that Smith’s departure came as a total shock to most at the network.
Smith had just signed a multiyear contract 18 months ago, and at the time said he was ‘extremely thankful for the opportunity to continue to lead our breaking news coverage for years to come.’
Rupert Murdoch said at the time: ‘Shepard Smith is an exemplary journalist whose skill in anchoring breaking news is unrivaled. His powerful storytelling on both television and digital platforms has elevated our entire news gathering process.’
‘It will be interesting to find out whether these are journalists who tell the truth or whether these are opinion makers who are essentially coddling the president as allies,’ Carl Cameron said Friday, calling Smith’s departure a ‘big loss’ for the network.
‘It says something about the way in which the cable channel has been for years shrinking the news department and building its right-wing entertainment hosts, because that gets ratings and ratings gets revenue and that’s how they make money,’ Cameron said.
‘It’s a real sad day for people who watch Fox News and want accurate information because Shep was somebody you could reliably count on.’
Former Fox News reporter Carl Cameron told MSNBC that ‘it will be telling’ to see who steps into Smith’s slot
Just two weeks ago a war of words erupted after Tucker Carlson mocked colleague Smith over comments about President Trump and his Ukraine call.
Carlson targeted Smith during his show after the latter had defended a Fox News analyst earlier in the day. The ongoing saga was ignited when Smith had Fox News contributor and former judge Andrew Napolitano on his show to talk about the Trump-Ukraine call.
Judge Napolitano told Smith that it would constitute a crime if Trump had asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate presidential candidate Joe Biden to uncover dirt on him.
Smith said diGenova was a ‘partisan guest’ and that his comments went unchallenged by prime time host Carlson.
‘Attacking our colleague who’s here to offer legal assessments on our air in our work home is repugnant,’ Smith told his viewers.
In response, Carlson invited diGenova back on his show Wednesday night to mock Smith.
‘Apparently our daytime host who hosted Judge Napolitano was watching last night and was outraged by what you said and, quite ironically, called you partisan,’ Carlson said.
Last year, Smith was chastised by colleague Laura Ingraham on Twitter after Smith said Fox News opinion programs on his networks doesn’t ‘really have rules’ and exists ‘strictly to be entertaining’.
To that Ingraham said: ‘Always liked Shep, but his comments were inconsiderate & inaccurate. The hard working team at the Ingraham Angle does real reporting, develops impt sources and scores big interviews. Very proud of them.’
Fellow host Sean Hannity said: ‘While Shep is a friend with political views I do not share, and great at breaking news, he is clueless about what we do every day.’
Laura Ingraham ridiculed Trump as ‘inconsiderate and inaccurate’ last year for calling opinion programs on the network ‘strictly entertainment’
The sudden move comes after the anchor was both praised and derided over the past three years for his criticism of President Trump
Sources said that Smith was escorted out after his final appearance, but it was unclear if that was at the request of the network or for his benefit should there be photographers waiting outside the building.
A spokesperson later told DailyMail.com that it was in fact Smith’s own security detail who walked him out on Friday.
He was brought in to audition after Roger Ailes saw his coverage for Fox affiliates during the OJ trial (above in 1996)
His partner Giovanni Graziano, who was a production assistant on Smith’s show for just over a year before moving over to Varney & Co. on the Fox Business Network in 2012, also deleted his Linked In profile.
‘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,’ said Smith.
‘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.’
He continued: ‘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.’
Smith also made it clear that he will be off the air for at least some time.
‘Under our agreement I won’t be reporting elsewhere, at least in the near future, but I will be able to see more of [my partner] Gio and [our dog] Lucia and our friends and family and then we will see what comes along,’ said Smith.
‘This is my last newscast here. Thank you for watching today and over the decades.’
He then closed out his final newscast by stating: ‘It’s been an honor and my pleasure.’
Partner: Smith, 55, said that he was looking forward to spending more time with his partner Giovanni Graziano, 31, and their dog Lucia (Smith and Gio in 2015)
The news came as a big surprise to Neil Cavuto, who follows Smith in the 4pm hour.
His face appeared visibly shocked at the start of his show as he remarked on what a important part of the Fox News team Smith had been for the past three decades.
‘Whoa,’ said Cavuto. ‘Like you, I’m a little stunned.’
Smith, who left University of Mississippi two credits shy of a degree to take his first job, got his start on Fox News after catching the eye of Roger Ailes.
He has said in the past that Ailes saw him reporting on the OJ Simpson trial for Fox affiliates and then called him asking if he would fly to New York City to talk more about the possible new position.
Soon after, Smith moved to New York City and began his career at the network.
In the past few years he has come under fire while at the same time being praised for his coverage of President Donald Trump.
It all kicked off in 2016 when he said that Trump ‘trades in racism’ during the primary, and Smith has remained one of the network’s few critics of the president ever since.
Comments like those are why President Trump never appeared on Smith’s show, despite the anchor reaching out to his campaign for an interview.
‘I would like to have some time with him,’ said Smith back in 2016.
‘For me, at least, it would be interesting to go through the things he’s said and the things he’s done and try to get an explanation.’
When asked about Smith’s departure on Friday by DailyMail.com, President Trump said: ‘Is he leaving because of bad ratings? Is he leaving because of me?’
Smith also came out as gay in recent years, giving a rare glimpse into his private life during an interview with Time.
In that story Smith, 55, acknowledged his relationship with 31-year-old Giovanni Graziano.
‘I have a longtime boyfriend and we’re as happy as we can be,’ revealed Smith.
‘We live a very normal life and go to dinner and go to games and see his family and see my family.’
He then added: ‘It’s great for us, but I can’t imagine anyone else finding it interesting.’