Geraldo Rivera Breaks His Silence After Leaving Fox News

After more than 20 years at Fox News, veteran journalist Geraldo Rivera has opened up about his sudden departure from the network, describing it as the culmination of an increasingly strained working environment and personal disagreements.

Rivera, who became a familiar face to viewers through his role as co-host on the popular program The Five, shocked many when he announced he was stepping away from the show — and the network altogether. Though his exit was framed publicly as amicable, Rivera’s recent interviews have painted a different picture, revealing internal friction and emotional fallout.

Appearing on a daytime talk show last week, Rivera spoke candidly about the circumstances surrounding his departure. “I had a very toxic relationship with one of my co-hosts,” he said, without naming anyone. While he emphasized that he wasn’t there to point fingers, he admitted the tension became too much to handle over time.

The veteran broadcaster did clarify that he was not let go by Fox News entirely at first. “They offered to move me to another program,” he said. “But after being removed from the top-rated show on the network, I couldn’t see that as anything but a step down. I decided it was time to leave on my own terms.”

Despite the controversy, Rivera received a warm send-off during his final appearance, complete with cake, goodbyes, and even his colleagues donning fake mustaches in tribute to his signature look. Still, the underlying tensions were hard to ignore.

Throughout his tenure at Fox News, Rivera was often known for holding views that didn’t always align neatly with those of his fellow panelists. That ideological contrast led to on-air disagreements that, while spirited, sometimes crossed a line into heated arguments. Though he didn’t name anyone directly, viewers will recall frequent debates between Rivera and fellow co-hosts, which occasionally grew uncomfortably personal.

“It wasn’t about healthy disagreement anymore,” Rivera explained. “I felt like I was constantly being undermined, and I don’t think I was judged fairly when conflicts arose.”

When asked specifically if the “toxic” colleague was one of the network’s other prominent personalities, Rivera remained vague but did note the individual was male. He expressed appreciation for some of his other co-hosts, even mentioning a few he “discovered and deeply respected.”

The departure wasn’t just about interpersonal conflict. Rivera also took issue with how certain stories were presented by others on the network. One topic he feels particularly passionate about is how events are framed without sufficient scrutiny. In one interview, he said he couldn’t forgive one former colleague for how they covered a major national event, claiming it misrepresented facts and fed into dangerous speculation.

“I’m a journalist first,” Rivera said. “When someone presents something that distorts the truth or omits key context, I have a responsibility to speak out.”

That passion for accurate storytelling is what Rivera says keeps him going even after stepping away from Fox News. “I’m not done,” he said. “I still have a voice, and I still have stories to tell. The format may change, but the mission hasn’t.”

Online, his candid remarks have drawn mixed reactions. Some praised Rivera’s willingness to speak out and stand by his principles, while others questioned his motivations or pointed to past controversies. Still, he remains undeterred by public criticism.

“It comes with the territory,” he said. “After decades in this business, you learn to take both praise and blame in stride.”

In many ways, Rivera’s story is emblematic of a larger trend in the media landscape: the tension between maintaining journalistic independence and fitting within a network’s broader editorial tone. As viewers seek more transparency and balance, those inside the industry are often left to navigate the tightrope between opinion and fact.

Rivera, now 79, is not retiring — just shifting focus. He’s hinted at working on a memoir and pursuing independent media projects that reflect his values and experiences.

“My story isn’t over,” he said with a smile. “It’s just turning a page.”