MovieChat Forums > The Five (2011) Discussion > It's Official: Bob Beckel has been relea...

It's Official: Bob Beckel has been released from Fox News

posted 9 years ago by A_l_a_c_h_u_a_1
5 replies | jump to latest

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2015/06/26/bob-beckel-leaves-fox-the-five/29334593/

Fox News Channel parted ways with liberal pundit Bob Beckel, according to a statement from the company.

Beckel, now former co-host of The Five, is a Democrat and liberal strategist who disappeared from the anchor chair Feb. 16.

"We tried to work with Bob for months, but we couldn't hold The Five hostage to one man's personal issues," wrote Bill Shine, Fox News' executive vice president of programming.

His role on the late-afternoon political talk show will be replaced by a rotating cast, including commentators Juan Williams and Geraldo Rivera, wrote Shine in a statement released Thursday.

Beckel initially departed from the show to undergo major back surgery, according to previous statements by Fox. Later, he entered rehab after a relapse in prescription drug abuse.

Shine's statement did not elaborate on what ultimately prompted Fox News to cut ties with Beckel.

"He took tremendous advantage of our generosity, empathy and goodwill and we simply came to the end of the road with him," Shine wrote.

Beckel also writes freelance opinion features for USA TODAY, penning "Common Ground" with Cal Thomas.

Social media erupted with confused tweets after Beckel's sudden disappearance from the show in February. Known as a liberal voice on a cable channel that heavily features conservative commentary, Beckel sometimes made headlines for controversial remarks, like a racial slur against Chinese people last year.

Beckel did not immediately respond to request for comment, but did confirm his departure on social media.

"Fox has been good ... especially when I was healing," he tweeted. "I guess I'll never understand their anger."

Ratings for The Five have been up 8% since Beckel's departure, according to Nielsen Research data provided by Fox. Beckel was with the network for 15 years, according to his profile on FoxNews.com, which is no longer posted.

[–] DanLeeD 9 years ago

Pretty harsh statement. Bob must've really pissed someone off.

[–] A_l_a_c_h_u_a_1 9 years ago

I think he did piss off quite a few people...And the way the rest of The Five handled his departure (basically ignoring it, and then just nonchalantly briefly acknowledging that he wouldn't return) says a lot as well.

I think he's now doing some work with CNN. The other week I was passing by a television with CNN on (it was a Saturday morning), and there was Beckel was on it giving his opinion about something. Not sure if that is his regular gig these days (haven't seen him since on CNN, but then again I'm not watching it 24/7).

It's not unheard for news anchors and reporters to jump from one of the cable news channels to another (Fox, CNN, MSNBC, etc.). You hear them talk about their loyalty to the station they are currently on, then once they are fired or replaced and they jump to another station, then all of a sudden they love their new station and it's the "best" of all the cable news channels.

[–] DanLeeD 9 years ago

I saw Beckel on CNN the other day, as well. And today on "Outnumbered", Andrea Tantaros said that she used to get "stressed out" sitting next to "The liberal" on "The Five". Clearly, she meant Bob Beckel.

[–] A_l_a_c_h_u_a_1 9 years ago

haha, I heard that too now that I think about it - I had it on in the background when I was doing other things around the house, and I do remember hearing her saying that, but I didn't pay attention enough to put it together at that moment...

[–] A_l_a_c_h_u_a_1 7 years ago

So funny that now that he is back on The Five, they act like they all love him now. Reading through this thread, you'll see how Fox basically said "good riddance" to him when he left. Now they have welcomed him back and no mention of any "personal problems", and everyone on The Five panel "adore" him.

It is strange seeing him back on The Five now. It almost doesn't seem right. I got used to Juan being in that seat and thought he offered more to the table. Beckel just comes across as an ornery perv.