No, this isn't old news, Fox News is losing yet another one of its hosts. The news channel has had a whirlwind of a year with lawsuits, high-profile firings, and departures, and we have yet another to add to the list. Fox News has released a statement that they have fired pundit and co-host of The Five, Bob Beckel.
Fox News says Bob Beckel has been released by the network, following an insensitive remark he made to an African-American employee. Per Variety, this will be the second time Fox News has terminated Beckel, with the first firing coming in 2015. Prior to that, Beckel had been a host on The Five since 2011, and was recently brought back to the show in January. The incident in question involved an IT employee coming to Beckel's office to service his computer and Beckel, leaving his office after stating to the employee he was doing so "because he was black."
That account comes from the employee's attorney Douglas Wigdor, who has represented past employees of Fox News who claim to have experienced racial discrimination from the network. Wigdor also states that executives from the network reached out to the employee, and asked that the complaint against Bob Beckel be removed. Fox News disputes the account, and maintains that the complaint was first delivered to Human Resources Tuesday evening via email, and after an investigation, the network decided to terminate Beckel on Friday. Fox then facilitated an apology from Beckel to the employee not long after his termination.
In either case, neither party seems to disagree on the fact that the incident did indeed happen, and Bob Beckel was terminated. As for Beckel's future, the host did have a short run on CNN, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will seek to return to television or if networks will take him following the incident. Beckel now joins a list that features Bill O'Reilly and recently deceased CEO Roger Ailes as someone to be removed from Fox News in regards to some form of discrimination. Beckel also joins the larger list of people to depart Fox News in the last year and a half.
The Five will continue without Bob Beckel weeknights on Fox News Channel at 9 p.m. ET. Of course, we'll be keeping an eye on what has become an ongoing shakeup at one of television's biggest news network. That way, you can focus on more exciting things like all the new television coming up in the next couple weeks. If you're unaware of what's coming head over to our handy guide right here and be sure you have your DVR set for all the exciting finales that are happening.
