Fox News Media announced on Thursday that anchor Maria Bartiromo had departed the company after 12 and a half years. The network released a brief public statement confirming that the host was no longer with Fox News Media, effective immediately, while thanking her for her service. A Fox News spokesperson characterised the departure as a business decision, and the network declined to make executives available for further comment. On Friday, Bartiromo's attorney, Bryan Freedman, disputed the announcement and denied that she had been fired from her position. Freedman asserted that Bartiromo remains employed by Fox and stated that her legal team is prepared to present evidence and witnesses in court.
“The irresponsible reports that have been published stating that Maria Bartiromo was fired or is no longer an employee of Fox are absolutely and unequivocally false. Make no mistake, we have the receipts and witnesses and they will come out whether through the courthouse or otherwise. Those reporting her firing or the incredulous facts supporting that fiction have exhibited a complete and utter reckless disregard for the truth.”
Bartiromo had not appeared on the air since 9 August, and the final episode of her weekday morning program, "Mornings with Maria," aired on Fox Business Network on Thursday morning without her presence. Multiple media reports indicated that Fox management ousted the anchor after learning she had shared internal corporate directives with the White House. Network executives had issued guidance instructing Fox Business producers to avoid endorsing claims made by Donald Trump during a July primetime address regarding the 2020 election. Bartiromo allegedly transmitted those confidential corporate missives directly to White House staff. Company leadership treated the disclosure of internal editorial instructions to an outside party as a direct violation of employment terms.
The departure follows years of legal complications surrounding Bartiromo's reporting and on-air commentary. Following the 2020 presidential election, Bartiromo repeatedly aired unsubstantiated claims regarding election fraud and voting machinery. Those segments became central evidence in defamation lawsuits filed against Fox News by election technology companies. In 2023, Fox paid $787.5 million to settle claims brought by Dominion Voting Systems, while a separate defamation lawsuit filed by Smartmatic remains active. In July, two non-profit organisations filed another defamation lawsuit against Fox News over claims made by guest Kevin O'Leary on Bartiromo's morning show about opponents of a proposed 16,000-acre data center in Utah, which had led Bartiromo to deliver an on-air apology in June.
Bartiromo joined Fox in 2013 under then-network chief Roger Ailes after a career at CNBC, where she had been the first television journalist to report live from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. During her tenure, she hosted three separate programs across Fox Business Network and Fox News Channel, including "Sunday Morning Futures." On Thursday night, Donald Trump posted on social media to criticise the network for removing her from the airwaves.
“I can't believe Maria Bartiromo is no longer going to have her great show(s) on FoxNews/Business. Three different shows, always number one. Maria is a total professional, and a true warrior. Her fans, of which there are many, will not be happy. God bless you, Maria!”
Freedman, who has previously represented dismissed television hosts including Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Don Lemon, and Chris Cuomo, noted that his team would challenge the company's handling of Bartiromo's contract.
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Fox News Media has ended its 12-year tenure with host Maria Bartiromo following reports that she shared internal editorial guidance with the White House, while her attorney insists she remains employed.
AI text based on reports by Variety, Deadline, The Guardian and other publishers. Changed .