News Anchors Who Were Fired, Quit: Don Lemon, More

Media mania! While television viewers may not be expecting any scandals or drama when they turn on the news in the morning, quite a few former anchors have been fired from their networks. In recent years, people have watched their favorite hosts get ousted from huge networks, including CNN, Fox News and ABC News.

In December 2021, CNN announced that Chris Cuomo had been let go after violating journalism standards while helping his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, navigate his sexual harassment allegations.

“Chris Cuomo was suspended earlier this week pending further evaluation of new information that came to light about his involvement with his brother’s defense,” CNN said in a statement at the time. “We retained a respected law firm to conduct the review, and have terminated him, effective immediately. … While in the process of that review, additional information has come to light. Despite the termination, we will investigate as appropriate.”

After he was booted from his show, the former Cuomo Prime Time host took to Twitter.

“This is not how I want my time at CNN to end, but I have already told you why and how I helped my brother,” Chris tweeted at the time. “So, let me now say as disappointing as this is, I could not be more proud of the team at Cuomo Prime Time and the work we did as CNN’s #1 show in the most competitive time slot. I owe them all and will miss that group of special people who did really important work.”

While Chris’ firing shocked many of his fans, ABC viewers watched some serious drama unfold on GMA3 in late 2022 when former cohosts Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes’ affair leaked.

The two were spotted on multiple PDA-packed outings together in November 2022 while they were still married to their respective spouses at the time. Though both Amy and T.J.’s marriages ended in divorce by the end of the year, Us Weekly broke the news that they were “out” from their ABC show.

“The network is negotiating with them on their exit deals and an announcement,” a source told the outlet in January 2023.

Scroll down to see which former TV hosts were either fired or left a news network.

Tucker Carlson

The former Tucker Carlson Tonight host was informed of his departure by Fox News just 10 minutes before the network announced it, the Washington Street Journal reported in April 2023. The news came amid the defamation lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems against Fox.

“FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways,” the network said in a statement at the time. “We thank him for his service to the network as a host, and prior to that, as a contributor. Mr. Carlson’s last program was Friday, April 21st. Fox News Tonight will air live at 8 p.m. ET starting this evening as an interim show helmed by rotating FOX News personalities until a new host is named.”

Don Lemon

On the same day that Fox News confirmed Tucker’s exit, Don claimed that he had “been terminated by CNN” without being informed by the network beforehand.

“I am stunned,” he wrote via Twitter in April 2023. “After 17 years at CNN, I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly. At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network. It is clear that there are some larger issues at play. With that said, I want to thank my colleagues and the many teams I have worked with for an incredible run. They are the most talented journalists in the business, and I wish them all the best.”

CNN, however, argued that Don’s statement was “inaccurate,” claiming that he “was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”

The former Don Lemon Tonight host’s ousting came shortly after he was taken off the air following a sexist comment he made about former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley.