Smith, now hosting the nightly show “The News with Shepard Smith” at 7:00 p.m. ET on CNBC, told Amanpour that his presence on Fox became untenable as opinion shows on the network spread lies that the hosts knew were lies.
“Opine as much as you like, but if you intend to mean, start with the truth and mean from there,” said Smith. “When people start with the wrong premise and lead people astray, it is detrimental to society and it is the antithesis of what we should be doing: those of us who are so revered and grateful to have a platform of public influence , should use it for the public well. “
Smith, who joined Fox News when it was founded in 1996, said he was proud of the work he did at the network as he hosted a daytime news show that increasingly contradicted what was aired on the opinion shows of Fox. Smith believed that by staying with Fox News, he could counteract lies spread by Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, Laura Ingraham, and other primetime hosts.
“I thought it was important that I stay there,” he said. “If you think the Fox viewers got wrong or misinformation, I was there to make sure they got it right,” he said.
Smith felt that taking news from viewers and replacing it with opinions “felt a bit selfish,” he added.
For example, in late September 2019, Tucker Carlson, 8:00 p.m. ET presenter, mocked Smith for standing up for his friend and fellow judge Andrew Napolitano after the judge was labeled a “fool” by one of Carlson’s guests. Smith’s lack of a vocal defense after the incident bothered him, and the entire episode played a part in his decision to leave, according to a person familiar with the case.
Executives at the network leaned on him to stay, but he couldn’t. Smith announced his departure in the air and immediately left the building.
“It took me as long as possible,” said Smith. “At some point I realized I had reached a point of diminishing returns, and I left.”
Smith told Amanpour that he is still disturbed by what is being reported about Fox.