Fox News Channel’s Shepard Smith has 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. Friday afternoon’s edition was Smith’s final show, during which he addressed his surprise decision. “Recently, I asked the company to allow me to leave Fox News. After requesting that I stay, they obliged. So under our agreement, I won’t be reporting elsewhere, at least in the near future,” said Smith, who has been with FNC since its founding in 1996, but has found himself clashing with the news net’s opinion hosts over his skepticism about President Trump. “Even in our currently polarized nation, it’s my hope that the facts will win the day. That the truth will always matter. That journalism and journalists will thrive.”
Viewers weren’t the only ones taken by surprise by the abrupt announcement. “I’m a little stunned and a little heartbroken,” said Neil Cavuto on air Friday. In an internal memo, Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott and President Jay Wallace told staffers, “We know this was an extremely difficult decision for him and he made it with much deliberation, care and consideration. While this day is especially challenging for both of us who have worked alongside him for 23 years, we respect his decision and are deeply grateful for his immense contributions to the entire network.” A series of rotating anchors will host Smith’s former time slot until a new program is announced.
