Bob Beckel Claims Confusion After Fox News Sends Him Packing Over His Personal Issues
Fox News has had enough of The Five co-host Bob Beckel, the panel’s sole liberal voice, dumping him with some harsh criticisms.
“We tried to work with Bob for months, but we couldn’t hold The Five hostage to one man’s personal issues,” said Fox News’ head Bill Shine said Thursday. “He took tremendous advantage of our generosity, empathy and goodwill and we simply came to the end of the road with him.”
Contradicting this nasty language is Fox News’ contention that its split with Beckel was “amicable,” Mediaite reported. He’s been with the network in various roles since 2000 and has co-hosted The Five since 2011.
But Bob’s face and sometimes controversial comments haven’t been seen on the show since February, and his disappearance struck many as mysterious. As it turns out, Bob had back surgery, and by March was in recovery, the New York Daily News reported.
But by April, Beckel apparently had a painkiller addiction. He headed to rehab to kick it.
Bob is flummoxed by his dismissal, taking to Twitter to express confusion at the network’s apparent anger. But he didn’t offer his perspective or any theories as to why he may have been ousted.
I am no longer on The Five or with Fox. Fox statement today baffles me. I will respond in the appropriate forum. I will miss you all.
— Robert G Beckel (@RobertGBeckel) June 25, 2015
I just can't understand the anger in Fox statement. I was healing from major back surgery i could not walk, I took no advantage I got well
— Robert G Beckel (@RobertGBeckel) June 26, 2015
Fox has been good to especially when I was healing. I guess I'll never understand their anger It is all so very sad
— Robert G Beckel (@RobertGBeckel) June 26, 2015
Thank u for thousands of Tweets not angry but very very sad Where I go from here is in Gods hands
— Robert G Beckel (@RobertGBeckel) June 26, 2015
Beckel will be replaced with political analyst Juan Williams and Geraldo Rivera in turns.
The 66-year-old was known for being a bit divisive with some of his comments. His hall of fame includes calling the star of The Bachelorette a “slut” on live TV, claiming to have done drugs at the White House, using the epithet “chinamen” to describe the Chinese (while also calling them a huge threat to national security), suggesting Muslim students be denied visas, and often cursing or flipping off co-hosts.
According to the Huffington Post, The Five’s ratings have done pretty well since he left.
[Photo Courtesy Twitter]
