Fox News viewers are abandoning the network over the alleged firing of Maria Bartiromo and the continued presence of Jessica Tarlov.
Bartiromo, who hosted three programs across Fox News and Fox Business, was let go on September 3rd. The network released a brief statement thanking her for 12 years of service and outlining the future of her shows, but offered no explanation for her departure.
The very next day, Bartiromo’s attorney Bryan Freedman pushed back hard. “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,” Freedman said. He warned that his client had “receipts and witnesses” that would surface “whether through the courthouse or otherwise.” Fox News responded by standing behind its original statement.
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As originally reported, the backlash quickly spilled onto social media platform X, where viewers directed much of their frustration at the network’s decision to keep left-leaning co-host Jessica Tarlov on “The Five” while parting ways with Bartiromo.
Many viewers said Tarlov was already the reason they stopped watching “The Five” before the Bartiromo news even broke. One commenter tied both grievances together directly. “I quit watching The Five because of Jessica Tarlov and now I’ve quit watching Sunday Morning,” the user wrote.
Others made their preferences plain. “No thanks,” wrote one viewer. “I want to watch Maria.” A separate commenter added that losing Bartiromo from Sunday programming was a dealbreaker. “I refuse to watch Fox Sunday,” that person stated.
The criticism extended well beyond Tarlov and Bartiromo. User Jules Malone offered a sweeping takedown of the network’s current lineup. “Exactly. Now, They put Arthel Neville on Outnumbered, Wrong. So, That show’s cooked. Fox and Friends is horrible. Sean Hannity is so arrogant and his pen clicking and his whistle tooth is insufferable. Bret Baier is boring and arrogant. Sick of seeing Pence on there,” Malone wrote.
The episode highlights a widening rift between Fox News and portions of its core audience. Pro-Trump viewers have long called for Tarlov’s removal, arguing her presence on “The Five” undermines the network’s appeal to its base. The Bartiromo situation gave those viewers another flashpoint, and many are now signaling they are done with the channel entirely.
Whether the defections are temporary or lasting remains to be seen. But the volume and specificity of the complaints suggest Fox is navigating real tension between editorial decisions and viewer loyalty, a balance that has rarely been easy for any cable news network to strike.
