Maria Bartiromo was not fired by Fox News and remains an employee of the network, according to her attorney, who is pushing back sharply against reports surrounding the longtime television host’s abrupt departure from her Fox programs and warning that those spreading what he calls false claims could face legal action.
“The irresponsible reports that have been published stating that Maria Bartiromo was fired or is no longer an employee of Fox are absolutely and unequivocally false,” a spokesperson for attorney Bryan Freedman, Bartiromo’s attorney, said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times on Friday.
Freedman suggested that news organizations or individuals reporting that Bartiromo had been fired could ultimately be forced to defend those assertions in court.
“Make no mistake, we have the receipts and witnesses and they will come out whether through the courthouse or otherwise.”
Freedman is a prominent entertainment attorney who previously represented Tucker Carlson following Carlson’s departure from Fox News in 2023.
“Those reporting her firing or the incredulous facts supporting that fiction have exhibited a complete and utter reckless disregard for the truth,” Freedman, who has represented celebrities including Vin Diesel, Seth Rogen and Julia Roberts, added.
The attorney’s comments came one day after Fox News Media announced that it had parted ways with Bartiromo, who had spent more than 12 years with the company. Bartiromo joined Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network in 2013 following a lengthy career as an anchor and financial reporter at CNBC.
Fox did not publicly disclose what led to the separation. Bartiromo herself has not issued a public statement explaining the circumstances surrounding the development, with Freedman’s comments serving as the response from her side.
“We thank Maria for her work over the last 12 ½ years and wish her all the best on her next chapter,” Fox News Media said in announcing the move.
The network said Bartiromo’s departure from its programming was effective immediately. Fox also announced that the two programs she had hosted would be renamed and would receive new hosts, with a replacement also selected for “Sunday Morning Futures.”
President Donald Trump reacted to the news on Truth Social on Sept. 3, describing Bartiromo as a “true warrior” and “total professional.” Trump also predicted that viewers of her Fox programs would be unhappy about her departure.
Vice President JD Vance addressed Bartiromo’s situation during a White House press conference amid speculation that she could potentially succeed Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary following Leavitt’s departure from the administration last month.
“No, I don’t think so,” Vance said when asked whether Bartiromo was being considered for the position. Vance nevertheless spoke positively about Bartiromo and described her as a friend.
Bartiromo’s exit from Fox programming marks the network’s most prominent on-air departure since Tucker Carlson left in 2023 after hosting what had been the highest-rated program in cable news prime time. Several years earlier, Fox News had also parted ways with longtime host Bill O’Reilly.
Bartiromo’s agency representatives did not respond to an earlier request for comment Thursday. Fox News also did not immediately respond Friday to a request from The Epoch Times seeking additional comment about Freedman’s assertions.
{Matzav.com}
