A Gawker report this week alleging that Fox News forced host Shepard Smith to hide his homosexuality is inaccurate and a "complete fabrication," Fox News said in a statement.
The Gawker article cited “multiple sources” that said when Smith wanted to officially come out, Fox President Roger Ailes said no.
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Gawker's story said Fox Executive Vice President Bill Shine got upset when Smith brought a boyfriend to a party, but
Shine wasn’t even at the party in question, Politico revealed. When Politico contacted Gawker about that issue, Gawker's editor-in-chief said the article was corrected to reflect that fact, but that “otherwise we stand by our reporting.”
The Gawker article also said Shine was well-known as being anti-gay, something Fox News disputed by pointing out that Shine attended the wedding of Fox News’ Ellen Ratner to Cholene Espinoza.
Ailes and Smith made a joint statement Wednesday about the Gawker article, which they disputed 100 percent.
“As colleagues and close friends at Fox News for 18 years, our relationship has always been rooted in a mutual respect, deep admiration, loyalty, trust, and full support both professionally and personally," the statement said.
Shine also issued a statement, saying, “We have never asked Shep to discuss or not discuss his private life, and the notion of us having an issue with anyone’s sexuality is not only insulting, but pure fiction. We renewed his contract in June 2013 based on this full support as well as his exemplary journalism. He’s the gold standard of this profession and we’re extremely proud to call him the face of our news division.”
The Gawker story has been updated several times since publication.
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