Fox News parts ways with 'Fox & Friends First' host Heather Childers after COVID-19 scare
Fox News has officially parted ways with "Fox & Friends First" host Heather Childers, who sparked controversy after coming to work visibly sick back in March.
"Fox News and Heather Childers have parted ways," Fox News spokesperson Caley Cronin told USA TODAY. "We wish her all the best." Additional details about the circumstances were not provided.
According to CNN, Childers, who had been an early morning host on Fox since 2012, was asked to stay home after being noticeably sick on and off camera on March 18, despite her insistence that she did not have coronavirus. She returned to work again the next day, only to be sidelined after still looking visibly ill. She has not returned on-air since, per CNN.
In mid-March, the coronavirus was silently spreading throughout the nation, as New York, where Childers is based, eventually became its epicenter weeks later. Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency March 7.
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In a series of tweets, Childers admitted on March 27 that she "coughed and sneezed last week on air," but denied having other COVID-19 symptoms.
Coughed & sneezed last week on air & mentioned during a segment w a doctor the next day I went to see a dr to make sure I didn’t have a temperature or cough of type described as concern. Wanted coworkers safe. Dr said everything was normal. Haven’t been back since Hope to be soon
— Heather Childers (@HeatherChilders) March 27, 2020
"I went to see a dr to make sure I didn’t have a temperature or cough of type described as concern. Wanted coworkers safe. Dr said everything was normal. Haven’t been back since Hope to be soon."
Three days later, she posted a video of her negative COVID-19 results, announcing that she is "officially & luckily #COVID19 negative." She also clarified in separate tweet that while she seemed sick on camera, she "never went to work feeling sick."
No. Last day I was on I mentioned I had gone to a dr to make sure I had no fever or cough of concern after coughing & sneezing on air. Never went to work feeling sick. I sent those results showing no temp or cough. Was then told Covid19 test would most helpful. Negative 🙏
— Heather Childers (@HeatherChilders) March 31, 2020
The former Fox News anchor even looked to the president for help after being unable to return to her show. On April 9, she wrote that she would "love to go back to work" and asked the president, "can I go back to work?"
I’d love to go back to work @realDonaldTrump but the antibody tests only show positive if you have had the virus. I’ve had TWO negative COVID19 tests results & no symptoms. Including a doctor testing temp, oxygen, all vitals 3 weeks ago today. All normal. Can I go back to work?
— Heather Childers (@HeatherChilders) April 9, 2020
Childers started working at Fox News in October 2010, according to her LinkedIn profile.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Heather Childers, Fox News part ways following coronavirus scare