Fox News Allegedly Demoted Shepard Smith Because He Asked to Come Out as Gay

[DonViejo]

Last edited Thu May 1, 2014, 05:54 PM - Edit history (1)

Gawker's J.K. Trotter reports today that "multiple sources" say Fox News anchor Shepard Smith approached network honcho Roger Ailes about the possibility of coming out as gay and was rebuffed. Smith subsequently was moved from prime-time to an afternoon slot, a move that one of the sources in the story called a "demotion."

Trotter's piece involves dramatic events at a picnic:

A few weeks before approaching Ailes about coming out, Smith surprised Fox staffers by bringing his boyfriend, a 26-year-old Fox producer named Gio Graziano, to a company picnic at Ailes’s compound in Garrison, New York. Held annually on Independence Day weekend, the picnic is a small gathering—only executives, on-air talent, and their frontline producers are invited—so Smith likely felt comfortable bringing along his steady partner.

Despite the intimate venue, the new couple put several Fox executives on high alert. According to multiple sources with knowledge of the picnic, the most dramatic reaction came from Bill Shine, the channel’s Executive Vice President of Programming. Shine “flipped out,” one source said, when Smith introduced Graziano to attendees. (Within and outside of Fox, Shine, who is 50 and grew up on Long Island, carries a reputation for insensitivity toward gay people. “He’s a major, major homophobe,” a Fox insider said.)

more
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/04/30/shepard_smith_fox_news_coming_out_request_allegedly_led_to_demotion.html?

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It appears the above news info is, at best, incorrect. Further reading:

The Shep Smith story shows the failure of fact-checking

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024895815

[MrScorpio]

1. Sounds like the sparks were-a-flying! nt

[Coventina]

2. Huh. Interesting.

I'm not sure what to say beyond that.

I'm sorry Mr. Smith has been demoted for such a bogus reason, OTOH, I wonder why he thought he would be safe coming out in the environment of Fox News - EVER!

Maybe this will open his eyes?

[awoke_in_2003]

18. Yep...

lay down with dogs, wake up with fleas. Anyone with half a brain knows what Fox is.

[Fred Sanders]

3. Someone should ask Smith if he wants to blow the whistle on Fox and forever be remembered

as the one that brought down the most vile influence in American politics ever.

[Tom Ripley]

4. Shep, when you lie down with dogs...

[malaise]

5. I thought he'd come out as a masochist

because no one with a shred of self respect would still be at Fux.

[joeybee12]

6. Wouldn't surprise me...knr

[madaboutharry]

7. He needs stop working there.

I still can't believe Shep Smith didn't resign after the horrible way Fox covered Hurricane Katrina. I'll never forget him standing on the street in New Orleans yelling at the a-holes back in N.Y.

[Lex]

14. +1. I feel like the guy could get a similar job somewhere where

he doesn't have to sell his soul every day.

[rocktivity]

8. Sorry, but we must put aside our schadenfreude and come to his aid

This is a clear example of workplace discrimination and retaliation.

The first order of business sending him a list of LGBT resources that can assist him (in case he hasn't got one already).

And remember, no schadenfreude...


rocktivity

[davidpdx]

13. I'm sure plenty of people have already done that

He has plenty of choices unlike most regular people facing discrimination. The guy makes 7-8 million a year (reportedly). If he cared about the cause he'd quit right then and there and tell Alies where he can stick his network. Smith can afford a decent attorney to prove what the network did was intentional. The thing is quitting and coming out will damage his credentials as a good conservative.

I apologize in advance if you were being sarcastic and my sarcasm meter didn't pick it up.

[Major Nikon]

22. Why?

Personally I don't really believe the story that he was "demoted" because he's gay. His network would have known about it for at least the last 10 years and he undoubtedly has a contract which assures him no loss in pay for such a basis. Certainly nobody deserves such discrimination if this indeed is the case, but if this story is even true he's in a lot better position than most who are discriminated against on that basis. At least he has a contract. If he doesn't want to get shit on himself, he shouldn't lay down with turds. It's not as if his network doesn't actively encourage this sort of thing on a daily basis. I'll save my sympathy for those who are more deserving.

[The_Commonist]

9. I don't have a dram of sympathy for Mr. Smith.

He belongs in prison, or worse, just like everyone else who works for that warmongering "network." And obviously, he's delusional. Did he really think it was a good idea to come out to his coworkers, especially at an Ailes picnic? Crazy.

Shep Smith, you could have been one of the good ones, but you chose, and have decided to stick with evil. You deserve your demotion, and so much worse.

[Lint Head]

10. What is appalling here is that he had to "ask"!

Fuck Roger Ailes and Fox News.

[cthulu2016]

11. Dude tried to run someone over for a parking space at the OJ trial

Being the most decent person at Fox News is a limited sort of awesome.

[madaboutharry]

12. I recall that as a fist fight,

but maybe I'm misremembering.

[Major Nikon]

24. Regardless of his orientation he is a pompous ass

There are other stories of his assholery as well.

[Estrella Fugaz]

15. Gawker bactracks, with updates to the story. Smith denies Gawker's allegation

http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2014/04/gawkers-shep-smith-report-is-full-of-holes-187724.html

[Agschmid]

20. What do you think really happened?

[Estrella Fugaz]

23. Journalism is not about leaving it to people to figure out what happened

I don't know what happened, other than an anonymous allegation was made.

Either you are giving me news or you're not.

[DonViejo]

29. You might be interested in this article...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024895815

[Agschmid]

31. Thanks!

[JohnnyRingo]

16. Personally, I don't believe that yet.

As much as I loathe Fox news, and Smith was probably the most sane voice at the asylum, sometimes a Christmas present that looks like the new banjo we wanted turns out to be a Ronco popcorn popper.

In this case, there's enough evidence to hold this allegation as suspect until we can learn more. Daily Banter, not at all a conservative sounding board, makes that very same fact based argument:

http://thedailybanter.com/2014/04/exclusive-shepard-smith-calls-gawker-story-horsesht-in-memo-to-staff/

[AlinPA]

17. I don't understand why Fox 'news' has not fired him yet.

[tom_kelly]

25. I think Shine

and other homo-phobes need to come to terms with their own homosexual tendencies. Their lives will be easier.

[RKP5637]

26. Shep Smith has never seemed the Fox personality type. I'm surprised he felt he could come out

in that herd of vipers.

[geretogo]

27. How do you get demoted at FOX ? You have to be a bottom feeder to work for them .

[awoke_in_2003]

28. "How do you get demoted at FOX ?"

Act sane?

[geretogo]

30. You're disappeared for that .

[spixxen]

32. MSNBC should hire him.....

and put him in Morning Joe's place.