Fox Information has had loads of huge scandals through the years, and its controversial hosts have made headlines with every part from their private lives to their political outlooks. Over time, one of many community’s hottest (and certainly one of their most headline-making) hosts has been Sean Hannity, who first joined Fox again in 1996. Within the many years that he is been on Fox’s airwaves, Hannity’s outspoken nature has garnered him loads of staunch supporters, making him the longest-running primetime host in cable information.

Nevertheless, for the entire individuals who love tuning into his present, there are simply as many haters. Of us have tried to unearth every part there’s to know concerning the Fox Information persona, from his scandalous relationship timeline with Ainsley Earhardt to any particulars obtainable about his two kids, Patrick and Merri, with ex-wife Jill Rhodes. And but, regardless of the entire time Hannity spends reporting the information (and generally even making information himself), there’s nonetheless a lot he has managed to maintain underneath wraps from his critics. That is the shady facet of Sean Hannity.

Fox Information has typically been accused of spreading misinformation. Though Sean Hannity has been outspoken in defending the community in opposition to such claims, he himself has been caught doing simply that. Truth-checking web site PolitiFact even has a whole web page devoted to Hannity and the false statements he is made on air, stretching from the current again to 2009. Simply a few of the inaccurate claims he is made embody telling viewers that unlawful immigrants can vote in native New York Metropolis elections (they can not) and that the White Home deliberate to ban fuel ovens and burners in 2023 (it did not).

Hannity has additionally typically turned his again on the information in an effort to reward Donald Trump. In 2021, for instance, he proudly proclaimed that the US did not import any crude oil from Saudi Arabia whereas Trump was in workplace. The reality, although, was that America was shopping for half one million barrels a day from Saudi Arabia in 2019, and had been since Trump entered workplace in 2017 — the COVID-19 pandemic could have impacted that quantity because the US introduced in much less oil, however Hannity’s grand assertion was incorrect. Extra just lately, in 2024, Hannity said that each Trump assassination makes an attempt had been carried out by Democrats. In actuality, Thomas Matthew Crooks, the gunman who hit Trump’s ear, was a registered Republican, whereas Ryan Routh, the suspect arrested outdoors Trump’s Florida golf course, was registered as an Unbiased.

Years earlier than Tucker Carlson’s shady facet was revealed to the world, resulting in his stunning and sudden exit from Fox Information, Sean Hannity confronted his personal headline-making accusations. In April 2017, conservative commentator Debbie Schlussel alleged that Hannity had twice requested her to return to his lodge room and, when she refused, he banned her from his present.

Schlussel spoke of the expertise throughout an look on the Pat Campbell Present; she claimed that it was the early 2000s and she or he was in Detroit, Michigan the place she was set to look on Hannity’s present. Earlier within the day, he reportedly requested her to attend his e book signing and issues bought awkward. “He stated, ‘Why do not you come again with me to my lodge?’ and I stated ‘No, I’ve to prepare for the present,'” she recalled, per Fox 13. Later, as soon as they had been completed capturing, Schlussel stated Hannity requested her again to his lodge a second time. She once more refused and alleged (by way of HuffPost), “I wasn’t booked on his present once more, and he referred to as me and yelled at me.”

Hannity was fast to reply, saying Schlussel’s claims had been false and that he would sue for defamation. In response, Schlussel clarified and considerably walked again her assertion, specifying that whereas Hannity made her uncomfortable, there was no harassment concerned. “I by no means thought I used to be sexually harassed by Sean Hannity, I believed he was bizarre and creepy,” she informed LawNewz.com (by way of Legislation & Crime).

Jimmy Kimmel hasn’t shied away from poking enjoyable on the Trumps, however when he mocked Melania Trump’s accent in 2018, Sean Hannity had sufficient. The Fox Information persona unleashed a tirade on Kimmel’s present, accusing the late evening host of being a bully and proclaiming, per Yahoo!, “Jimmy, you are a despicable shame.” The comic clapped again, and shortly, Kimmel and Hannity’s feud spilled over onto Twitter (now X).

Over 15 messages had been exchanged and insults rapidly escalated after Hannity posted clips of Kimmel on an outdated Comedy Central collection referred to as “The Man Present.” Within the controversial movies, Kimmel wore blackface and requested a younger lady to grope him. Hannity unleashed a slew of insults, dubbing Kimmel “Harvey Weinstein Jr,” in addition to “creepy and perverted.” In return, Kimmel mocked Hannity, writing, “Thank goodness we’ve variety, tolerant males such as you to guard this nation from bullies.”

Ultimately, Kimmel tweeted an apology for a few of the inciting jokes, together with an allusion to Hannity and Trump having a sexual relationship. Nevertheless, he maintained that his preliminary remark about Melania was humorous and threw in a couple of extra jabs at Hannity who, finally, determined to let it go. “I consider everybody ought to settle for apologies,” he informed viewers. “It is time to transfer on.”

Three years after he exchanged heated phrases with Jimmy Kimmel, Sean Hannity unleashed an on-air tirade in opposition to one other late evening comedian: Seth Meyers. All of it started in March 2021 when Meyers accused Republicans, the NRA, and Fox Information of standing in the best way of necessary gun laws. 

The Late Evening section aired shortly after two mass shootings happened in Boulder, Colorado and Atlanta, Georgia, and Meyers referred to as opponents of reform “a small minority of sociopaths with outsized energy in our politics.” He additionally singled out Hannity, noting how he solely briefly talked about the tragic Boulder capturing at the beginning of his present earlier than rapidly transferring on to a narrative about Joe Biden tripping whereas strolling up a set of stairs. “Get your priorities straight,” Meyers chastised.

Hannity quickly responded, happening his personal on-air tirade in opposition to Meyers. “You are simply one other limousine liberal, socialist, hypocritical a*****e who does nothing however spew anti-GOP hate,” he admonished, per Deadline. He then accused Meyers of being ignorant to the reality and of getting horrible rankings. “And you are not humorous, ever,” he concluded.

Sean Hannity has lambasted journalists for choosing sides and never being politically neutral, however he himself has been something however impartial. In April 2022, CNN discovered that the White Home’s former chief of employees, Mark Meadows, had exchanged 82 textual content messages with Hannity to debate Trump and his re-election. Within the first dialog, which happened on election day in 2020, Meadows requested Hannity to make use of his platform to inform viewers they needed to get out and vote. “On it. Anyplace particularly we’d like a push[?]” requested Hannity, clearly able to do something that was requested of him.

From there, the pair continued texting up till Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration, brainstorming about how finest to deal with alleged voter fraud. At first, Hannity was unwavering in his assist, writing, “I’ve had my staff digging into the numbers — there is no such thing as a means Biden bought these numbers.” Nevertheless, only a few weeks later, he informed Meadows that folk like Rudy Giuliani (who continued to say the election was stolen, regardless of numerous losses in courtroom) had been hurting Trump’s case. 

This time, as an alternative of taking orders, he provided his personal recommendation, texting that Trump ought to “Go to Fl and watch Joe mess up each day. Keep engaged.” Then, on January 6, because the revolt on the U.S. Capitol was occurring, he once more provided recommendation to assist Trump come out the victor, writing, “Can he make an announcement … Ask folks to peacefully depart the capital.” Hannity’s texts clearly confirmed viewers that he is not precisely neutral.

As a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, Sean Hannity has repeatedly gone to bat for him — like in September, 2024, when he took situation with the truth that Trump’s presidential debate with Kamala Harris would happen on ABC Information. “Barring some type of political miracle, this debate won’t be truthful,” Hannity introduced on his present, slamming moderator David Muir as being keen on Harris. He additionally went after different ABC journalists unaffiliated with the talk and proclaimed, “ABC-Disney is formally a woke, left-wing group.”

Hannity’s anger was then directed at CEO Bob Iger, as he latched onto the corporate’s dropping inventory value and argued that the community’s bias in opposition to Trump would value them dearly. The Fox Information host mused that Iger must be nervous that half of America could be upset with him and the community in the event that they did not give Trump a good debate. He additionally made a stunning leap from TV to Disneyland, implying that each one Trump supporters would boycott Disney points of interest if their candidate wasn’t handled correctly. “Perhaps they do not need half the nation to attend their theme parks,” Hannity contemplated.