OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Some fans of Fox News are furious with the network after it gave a lavish celebration to former host Geraldo Rivera.
On Friday Rivera made what is supposed to be his final appearance on the network when he was on “Fox & Friends” and the show aired a celebration for him.
It included network hosts and personalities praising Rivera and telling him how much they appreciated him.
They then had a cake for him, brought his brother on the show and gave him a standing ovation.
Some fans of Twitter juxtaposed Rivera’s departure with the unceremonious axing for former primetime host Tucker Carlson.
“No party hats and balloons when Tucker left. What a crap organization,” one person wrote on Twitter.
“The greatest narcissist on TV retires. Good riddance!” wrote another.
“Geraldo gets a cake and Tucker gets his integrity,” said another user.
“Yuk.. Fox News honors Geraldo with a glowing tribute…. Yet Tucker and Bongino get the middle finger from FOX NEWS Right back at ya, Fox News!” another user said, adding a pair of middle fingers. “RIP Fox News.”
And it came after Rivera announced that he had been fired from “The Five” and then said he quit the network because of it.
“Bumpy day on the North Atlantic. Anyway, I got fired from @TheFive so I quit Fox. After 23 years tomorrow Fox and Friends could be my last appearance on the network. Thanks for the memories,” he said in the caption of a video posted to Twitter.
“So it doesn’t look like I’m going to be on The Five. I mean, I’m not going to be on The Five. I’ve been fired from The Five, and as a result of that, I quit Fox. So I’ll have more to say about that on Fox and Friends tomorrow morning,” he said in the video.
On Friday “Fox & Friends” played a montage of Rivera’s greatest moments and a host of Fox News personalities spoke about the longtime media personality and what he meant to them.
“I feel emotional and deeply moved. I will always remember this morning. It is something that I didn’t expect. This celebration is beyond anything we’ve ever done,” he said after the montage played.
“Thank you. I am deeply – I am honored. I love Fox and the people at Fox. I always will. I will never let anyone separate us. I am beyond grateful, I love you for it,” he said.
Prior to his appearance Fox News announced his departure.
“We reached an amicable conclusion with Geraldo over the past few weeks and look forward to celebrating him tomorrow on Fox & Friends which will be his last appearance on the network,” the network said to Mediaite.
Last week Rivera, arguably the most unpopular Fox News host with conservatives, is heading for the exit.
The 79-year-old controversial host announced on Wednesday that he was leaving “The Five” but staying at the network as a Correspondent At Large.
“Morning, it’s official, I’m off @TheFive. My last scheduled show appearances are Thursday and Friday June 29th and 30th. It’s been a great run and I appreciate having had the opportunity. Being odd man out isn’t always easy. For the time being, I’m still Correspondent at Large,” he said in a tweet.
It was unknown at the time if Rivera left on his own or was removed, but he has had a volatile relationship with some of his cohosts.
In April Greg Gutfeld and Rivera got into a screaming match over Joe Biden’s border crisis.
During a segment on The Five, the table was discussing Joe Biden’s border crisis and reports of roughly 15,000 Haitian migrants coming to the U.S.
Things took a turn when Rivera misinterpreted a comment made by Gutfeld.
Gutfeld was detailing how Democrats and their allies in the media “are neglecting rising crime rates in U.S. cities,” accusing them of “ignoring rampant violent crime that started last summer.”
“All of our cities are degraded, dangerous –,” Gutfeld started before he was interrupted by Rivera.
“Stop, Geraldo. Let me finish. I let you talk for god knows how long,” Gutfeld said.
After Gutfeld finished his point, Rivera later “revisited his remarks, and implied Gutfeld was suggesting the migrants would commit crimes if allowed in the country.”
“I have to rebut what Greg said about Haitian immigrants and crime,” said Rivera, who challenged his cohost to find evidence linking Haitian immigrants and rises in crime, which was not alleged by Gutfeld, who understandably became agitated.
The pair then went at it:
GUTFELD: Oh my god. You are so wrong, Geraldo.
RIVERA: What does crime have to do with these people? You know what their crime is?
GUTFELD: Jesus Christ, you are totally misreading this! I was talking about how the media covers the story!
RIVERA: These–
GUTFELD: No, no because you screwed up. It’s embarrassing, Geraldo. You’re embarrassing me.
RIVERA: Well, be embarrassed.
GUTFELD: No, because you’re wrong!
[CROSSTALK]
GUTFELD: No, no, no, no. Let me respond to your lie to your face! I was talking about how the media ignored a story about the crime issue! It wasn’t about Haiti! Jesus! Apologize!
[CROSSTALK]
RIVERA: You wanted to make this stereotypical linkage. And Haitians have been screaming–
GUTFELD: That is so wrong. So wrong.
