Sean Hannity Leaving Fox News After Bill Shine’s Departure, Reports Say, But Hannity Says No

Amid a string of departures of top executives from Fox News, the limelight now is on the network’s popular host, Sean Hannity, who will reportedly be the latest in the line of people on their way out of the cable news network. However, Hannity said the reports are not true.

Reports about Hannity’s likely departure came following the network’s co-president Bill Shine’s resignation Monday. Shine stepped down from his post after accusations of trying to hide former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes’ alleged sexual misconduct, as well as retaliating against the network’s employees who accused the latter of sexual harassment.

However, Hannity took to Twitter late Monday to say that reports and speculations about his departure from Fox are not true. He quoted an Independent Journal Review report — which cited a source saying Hannity was “not negotiating” his departure — and said, “All I’ll say now is this is true.”

Reports earlier said Hannity is loyal to Shine and was negotiating his departure with Fox News. Multiple news outlets, all citing unnamed sources, reported Hannity had the “key man” clause in his contract — meaning he could leave the company anytime if a particular person or “key man” departs from the network.

Previously, Hannity indicated that Shine’s departure would upset him. On April 27, after New York magazine reported that the Murdochs — controlling shareholders of the network’s parent 21st Century Fox — denied any statement of public support to Shine, Hannity tweeted: “I pray this is NOT true because if it is, that’s the total end of the FNC as we know it.”

He later tweeted: “Somebody HIGH UP AND INSIDE FNC is trying to get an innocent person fired.”

Also on Monday’s “Hannity” show, the 55-year-old told “The Fox Specialists” co-host Eric Bolling that the network’s anchors were being observed by people “paid in the hopes of taking all of us out.” However, Hannity also asserted that “all the lies you've heard about me aren't true.”

Fox News also dismissed reports about Hannity’s departure.

“This is completely untrue,” a representative told Talking Points Memo in a statement.

The network has been plagued by sexual harassment allegations in recent months. Last month, Fox News said Bill O’Reilly, another popular host on the channel, would not continue with the news network after a New York Times report said he and the network paid $13 million to women who made sexual harassment allegations against him. Other top hosts who left the network are Megyn Kelly (who starts on NBC in June) and Greta Van Susteren (now on MSNBC). Currently, Hannity is the most popular anchor at Fox News.

Hannity has been with the network for over 20 years. In 1996, the network’s first year broadcasting, Hannity and liberal political commentator Alan Colmes had their debate show “Hannity & Colmes.” The program lasted till 2009. Following this, Fox News started “Hannity” with the popular host.