by Sharon Rondeau
(Sep. 5, 2026) — On Thursday, a press release from Fox News Media announced that longtime anchor Maria Bartiromo would no longer be on the air.
“Effective today, Maria Bartiromo is no longer with FOX News Media,” the press release begins. “In making the announcement, FOX News Media said, ‘We thank Maria for her work over the last 12 ½ years and wish her all the best on her next chapter.’”
The immediate reaction by many in the media was that Bartiromo was “fired” or had “left Fox News.” However, her attorney, Bryan Freedman, disputes that, stating to Newsweek that such reports are “absolutely and unequivocally false.”
At approximately 3:45 Friday, this writer left a message for Fox News Media spokeswoman Irena Briganti asking for clarification between its and Freedman’s statements but received no response by press time.
Newsweek reported Friday that a similar message sent to a FNM spokesperson “declined to respond to Freedman’s claims when reached Friday by Newsweek.”
Reaction on the social-media platform “X” largely criticized Fox for the move while praising Bartiromo’s work on several stories avoided by the “mainstream media.”
Patrick Ignozzi, Bartiromo’s executive producer for her daily morning show, “Mornings with Maria,” was also reportedly relieved of his duties.
According to journalist and founder of “JusttheNews” John Solomon, Bartiromo was not “fired.”
“She remains under contract with Fox News and receiving her pay until 2029,” Solomon wrote on his X account Friday. “She has been removed from air and won’t return. But she continues to remain with Fox at present under the pay or play provision of a contract, which is common in television.”
According to thelegalguide.org:
The term “pay or play” describes a contract provision where one party must either make a specified payment or take another action that effectively fulfills the contract’s obligation. In the United States, these clauses appear in various contexts—from employment benefits and healthcare mandates to sports and entertainment agreements. Understanding how pay or play works helps parties assess risk, costs, and strategic options when negotiations stall or regulatory requirements change.
…A pay or play clause establishes an either/or decision. If a party does not perform a stated action, they must make a predetermined payment instead. The design can vary: some clauses require payment if a benefit is not offered, while others trigger payment if a performance target cannot be met. In practice, the clause creates a clear alternative path for compliance or compensation, reducing ambiguity when negotiations falter or regulatory timelines loom.
Wrapbook defines a “pay or play” contract as “the most coveted item in the film and TV industry, which is full of exploitation and uncertainties. Likewise, it is also the most dangerous.”
“A pay or play clause is an item in a contract that guarantees one party will pay the other, even if the latter is released from the contract and their services are not used,” the website further states.
After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Economics at New York University in 1989, Bartiromo worked at CNN for five years under the late Lou Dobbs and Stuart Varney, now host of “Varney & Co.” at Fox Business.
In 1993, then-CNBC executive Roger Ailes hired Bartiromo as a market analyst, after which she became the first reporter to broadcast in real-time from the New York Stock Exchange.
Between 2010 and 2013, she served as an adjunct professor at the Stern School of Business at New York University.
Bartiromo went on to host several CNBC shows, where she gained stature and recognition in the world of finance.
In late 2013, when she was hired by the Fox Business network.
Bartiromo eventually hosted three programs on Fox Business and the Fox News Channel: the weekday “Mornings with Maria,” Friday night “Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street,” and “Sunday Morning Futures.” Her name has been removed from all three.
She is the author or co-author of four books and has appeared in several films as well as guest spots on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “Real Time with Bill Maher” and others.
She is the recipient of numerous journalism awards and has served on various boards and councils over her career.
Her personal website does not reflect Fox News’s announcement, deeming her “Anchor and Global Markets Editor, FOX Business Network – FOX News Channel.”
A timeline of Bartiromo’s career illustrated with photographs is here.