FOX News star Shepard Smith finally came out of the closet in the wake of the network's sexual harassment scandals — after
The National ENQUIRER exposed the newsman's secret life in Dec. 2014!
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The outspoken FOX anchor, who was married to a woman from 1987 to 1994, had previously dismissed inquiries into his personal life by declaring:" I don't talk religion, politics, sex." But he went public while defending his
sex-crazed boss Roger Ailes!Photo credit: Getty Images
Shepard made the bold announcement in an interview with the Huffington Post website, where he defended
his disgraced boss, citing how Ailes supported the gay FOX staffer. “He treated me with respect, just respect,” said Shep — also denying rumors that Ailes had pressured him to stay in the closet. “That’s not true. He was as nice as he could be to me." Shep was even safe as one of FOX's most prominent faces after The ENQUIRER exposed the secrets of his love life!
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As reported by The ENQUIRER in Dec. 2005, Shepard had stumbled into a scandal after approaching a man in a NYC bar. The unwitting news star didn't know he was talking to the editor of a gay newspaper! Kevin Naff, the openly-gay editor of the Washington Blade, told The ENQUIRER: "He was pretty drunk. He was singing along with show tunes. Then after a few martinis, he asked me if I would leave with him."
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At the time, Kevin had gone public with his story in hopes that both Shepard and CNN star
Anderson Cooper would reveal their sexuality and help end the stigma associated with being gay. Kevin said he was in Brandy's bar on New York's Upper East Side when he had his close encounter.
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"It happened about two years ago," Kevin told The ENQURIER in 2005. "I was sitting at the bar with two friends, and Smith was sitting next to me. He was alone. Then he turned around and began chatting to me."
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Kevin added that the FOX host, who was wearing a business suit, didn't think the writer recognized him. "He was very coy about who he was or what he did. He just told me he worked for [FOX parent company] News Corp.," said Kevin. But Shepard began to let his hair down over the next few hours , the Blade editor recalled.
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"After a few martinis, he asked me if I would leave with him," said Naff — adding that he was certain about what Shepard was suggesting, but politely turned him down. "Then he asked me if I would have dinner with him the following night," said Kevin. "I said no again."
Photo credit: National ENQUIRER
A few minutes later, at about 3 a.m., they went their separate ways. Kevin told The ENQUIRER that was the last he saw or heard of Smith in person. At the time, added Kevin,
Anderson Cooper was also continuing to "choose the closet over honesty." The CNN star finally went public with his sexuality in 2012. Kevin's now also seen Shepard finally speak out about his sexuality — surprisingly, in defense of
his disgraced FOX boss!Photo credit: Getty Images