Posted on 05/08/2017 12:06:28 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Shepard Smith, a Fox News anchor since 1996, revealed last week that he had no intention of opening up about his sexuality the way he did during an April speech at his alma mater.
Speaking at a conference, Smith was tapped to talk on a panel titled “It Starts With MEek,” one that was meant to promote inclusivity and diversity. According to a report made by the Clarion-Ledger, Smith changed his speech at the last minute to reflect the crux of the conversation and decided to tell his own story of inclusivity and diversity.
“It wasn’t until seven, or eight, or nine years ago, I started living my truth,” Smith told the crowd gathered to hear the panel. “I grew up in Holly Springs (Miss.). I went to the First Methodist Church. I went to Ole Miss. I was also trying to avoid what having a normal social life is. I didn’t need to go home and find my girlfriend or boyfriend.”
He revealed that he dropped out of college in 1987, just two credits short of graduating, and began working on television in Florida. Smith said that at that time, coming out wasn’t something he’d even considered. Married to Virginia Donald from 1987-1993, Smith didn’t really have the option.
“A. You’re going to hell for it,” Smith said about his internal battle over coming out as homosexual. “B. You’ll never have any friends again. C. What are you going to tell your family? And by the way, you’re on television on the craziest conservative network on Earth. That will probably put you in front of a brick wall. Of course none of that was true, but that’s how it felt.”
He continued, “I don’t think about it. It’s not a thing. I go to work. I manage a lot of people. I cover the news. I deal with holy hell around me. I go home to the man I’m in love with.”
Smith also took the time to stamp out old rumors that former Fox News chief Roger Ailes forbid him from coming out.
The Fox News reporter came out in October 2016 and noted that he never had a poor experience with Ailes.
“It’s such a wonderful place,” he told the Huffington Post in an interview about the Fox organization, “and it’s been home forever. [Ailes] was very fatherly and mentorish.”
About the reports that Ailes forced him to closet his sexuality, Smith denied it ever happened, but revealed that purported homophobic remarks made by Ailes in the past — but never around Smith — did hurt him.
“He was as nice as he could be to me. I loved him like a father,” Smith admitted. “I trusted him with my career and with ― I trusted him and trusts were betrayed. People outside this company can’t know [how painful that betrayal was]. This place has its enemies, but inside, it was very personal, and very scarring and horrifying.”
Or their ratings are falling and they know they can’t be fired right after coming out.
NO WAY
This is such a stunning revelation. Tell us more.
The story is in his eyes!
Shep is lucky to get to tell a sob story. Younger gays never got discriminated against or had to come out. Shep can live for years on the “I had to marry a GIRL” horror story.
Shemp’s opinions are as queer as his sex.
Exactly, yourself, lol! I loathe these men. Sadly, I suspect my next-door neighbor is one of these guys. In today’s climate, they have no excuse to live a lie.
I miss guys like Merv Griffin ...
MG was gay? I never knew that
Next you’ll be telling me Rock Hudson was gay too.
Shep gay? I don’t believe it! /s
You can calibrate your gaydar on that one :)
They HAVE to let everyone know as much as possible. It opens up the one night stand pool o ‘life partners’.
It’s so nice that he destroyed a woman’s life in the process out of pure selfishness.
I've never been able to understand how gays feel compelled to come out as gay, when everybody in the world already knew it. It's like they actually believe they've been able to hide it, when in actuality, their actions, speech, physical appearance, and manners shouts it out.
Even Barry Manilow is like ... well duh...
Shep just isn’t a good journalist. He’s unwatchable.
I quit just 3 classes short. We moved here after my husband graduated from State, had a daughter and then another one. I never had to work so I loved being a stay at home mom. My daughter still talks about being the place where her friends were welcome. We never knew how many would be there for lunch or for snacks. I had thought about going back but I could not be paid enough to be a teacher nowadays. She was telling me recently that I read every book she got and read to her all the time. I have loved reading ever since I learned how way back in 1950. My mom read stories to us from a magazine every month. She loved reading too. I have an old Dick and Jane reader from 1951. God bless.
Shepard Smith- who would ever have guessed!
The most unsurprising statement in a long time. It’s not even shocking when one “comes out”. Like, I don’t even care.
I always thought of him/her/whatever as gender neutral.........
Oh for Pete’s sake, Shep, man up and quit whining. We know who and what you are; we always have.
while I agree that sodomy is a sin.
Being saved applies to all sins.
Like we didn’t know Shep was a light loafer?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.