OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Geraldo Rivera is no longer part of Fox News after spending two decades at the network, and he recently went on “The View” to complain about some of his former on-air colleagues.
At one point during the interview, Rivera said he had a “very toxic” relationship with a former fellow co-host of “The Five,” but he didn’t name any names. Unlike Tucker Carlson, who was unceremoniously taken off the air in late April, Rivera got a nice on-air send-off that included cake and fellow Fox personalities donning fake mustaches.
Though he didn’t identify anyone, Rivera’s departure came after sparring on-air for months with Greg Gutfeld, with the two often getting into shouting matches on the air.
The 79-year-old said while he never did fit in ideologically at Fox News, he said the network offered to move him to another show after it became apparent he could no longer do The Five. But he declined, saying he would not accept being demoted from the most popular cable news show on TV.
“If you fired me from the No. 1 show, then I’m going to quit. And that’s basically what happened,” Rivera said.
In what was obviously a reference to former co-host Jesse Watters, Joy Behar asked Rivera if the ‘toxic’ person was “Smeshy Shwaters.”
Rivera laughed that off, but he did not leave any doubt that the person he had problems with was male.
“I thought it was very unfair that I was not judged objectively in our disputes, but rather he was always favored,” he said.
When he was asked if the person was Judge Jeanine Pirro, Rivera said that he actually discovered her and adored her. “Check the internet,” he said.
At another point on the show, Rivera said he could “never forgive” Carlson for his exposes on the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, in which he surmised that there were federal agent provocateurs in the crowd that day.
GERALDO: “I will NEVER forgive Tucker [Carlson] for what he did about January 6th…”pic.twitter.com/DOpEy2QbAl
— Suburban Black Man 🇺🇸 (@niceblackdude) July 13, 2023
In an appearance last week with commentator and comedian Russell Brand on Brand’s podcast on Friday, Carlson said he interviewed Steven Sund, who was chief of the Capitol Police on the day of the riot, but that he was fired before the interview aired. He told Brand that Sund confirmed what Carlson has said for more than a year — that federal agents were rife throughout the Jan. 6 mob that rioted at the Capitol.
Carlson also praised former President Donald Trump’s stance on Ukraine, noting that he seems to be the only major political figure in Washington right now that is against the war and wants to stop it.
That was apparently too much for Rivera.
“Due respect to Tucker Carlson, but he’s as full of s**t about Ukraine as he was about January 6th,” he tweeted. “His smiley face doesn’t change fact Russia invaded sovereign Ukraine; 1000’s are dead, including women & children, the world order is assailed and Putin is a punk.”
Due respect to Tucker Carlson, but he’s as full of shit about Ukraine as he was about January 6th.
His smiley face doesn’t change fact Russia invaded sovereign Ukraine; 1000’s are dead, including women & children, the world order is assailed and Putin is a punk.— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) July 7, 2023
Several Twitter users took Rivera to task over his remarks.
“Geraldo you are wrong about both…. Ukraine and Jan 6th,” wrote one, adding an insult: “P.S. A mustache is dirtier than a dog’s a**.”
“Look at the man in the mirror Geraldo. America has zero business being involved in this war period. Both countries are corrupt and both leaders are corrupt but heck so is Joe Biden. This crap is going to get Americans and our children laying dead in the streets!” said another.
“I’d rather have Putin as my neighbor than you Geraldo,” noted another user.
Still another user said, followed by three laughing emojis: “Are you still around and butt-hurt that Tucker Carlson is wildly more successful than you ever thought of being?”
