Juan Williams is out at The Five. The liberal co-host confirmed his exit on Wednesday, after nearly seven years as a co-host on the Fox News panel show.
“This is my last day hosting The Five,” Williams told viewers.
In December, the 67-year-old journalist revealed he was battling COVID-19 and had gone into isolation at a hotel.
“COVID taught me a lot of lessons,” Williams said Wednesday. “As the show goes back to the New York studio, I’ll be staying in D.C. I’ll be working for Fox out of Washington. My work as a Fox News political analyst will continue.”
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He also thanked The Five viewers for watching the program.
“You know, it’s been going on seven years since I have been a daily host of this show,” he said. “The show’s popularity has grown every single year, so thank you. Thank you so much to you, the viewers. Thank you.”
Williams was the lone liberal voice on the show. According to published reports, tensions behind the scenes may have contributed to his decision to leave the program.
The Daily Beast, which broke the story that Williams was “suddenly out” at The Five, reported multiple sources confirmed a “major driver of Williams’ sudden departure from the highly-rated opinion show was his run-ins with colleague Greg Gutfeld, who had wanted The Five to return to studio and felt Williams was the main reason they were filming remotely.”
Although a Fox News spokesperson told the outlet “Gutfeld had anything to do with the move whatsoever.”
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Megan Albano, who is vice president of The Five and Fox News weekend programming, said in a statement, “As we started planning The Five’s return to its New York City studio at our headquarters a few months ago, Juan decided to stay in Washington, DC permanently. We accommodated his request, understanding and appreciating his desire to remain closer to his family, recognizing that a remote co-hosting role on a roundtable in-studio program was not a long-term option.”
The Five is scheduled to begin filming in New York on June 1.
Williams will continue to work as a political analyst for Fox News and write a column for The Hill. The veteran journalist has also written for The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. He joined Fox News in 1997, as a contributor to the channel.
Watch Williams’ announcement below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgcx-lr-BLA
