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Elisabeth Hasselbeck Gets Emotional as She Announces Fox & Friends Departure to Become “Chief Breakfast Officer”

Her family over FOX. Elisabeth Hasselbeck held back tears on Fox & Friends on Tuesday, Nov. 24, as she formally acknowledged her departure from the network in order to look after her kids full-time at home.

Hasselbeck, 38, announced on Monday, Nov. 23, that she was leaving the news network after two years as a co-host on its morning show. “Oftentimes, the most difficult decisions are between two great things,” the wife of former NFL player Tim Hasselbeck told Us Weekly in a statement. “Throughout my 14 years working in television, I have never experienced a more positive and thoughtful atmosphere than FOX News Channel.”

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The longtime television personality, who made many headlines during her time as a co-host on The View, reiterated these points on Tuesday. “Like I said, I much preferred and am honored to have had the role of bringing you the news rather than being it,” she shared. “I have a ton of respect for you all here and you at home [and] I want to share with you what’s been on my heart. I am as I said, taking a new position as CBO, Chief Breakfast Officer, at our house with the kids and that does mean that in about a month, I will be leaving my Fox News family.”

Elisabeth Hasselbeck cried on Fox & Friends
Elisabeth Hasselbeck cried while announcing her departure on Fox & Friends

Hasselbeck then got choked up as she continued. “I will permit emotion to run where it’s permitted to run on this day now,” she noted. “This is a hard decision. Many women in business and in work make this decision in cycles of their parenting and work lives . . . It’s a hard decision because I’ve had the blessing and privilege of working for the best boss in the business, the most powerful man in the business, Mr. Roger Ailes . . . He is the best man I have worked for.”

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Acknowledging her co-hosts, Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade, Hasselbeck shared: “It’s hard because of all of you. You all have made this a really hard decision. I have fallen head over heels with this place.”

However, she ultimately decided it was time to look after her young kids, Grace, 10, Taylor, 8, Isaiah, 6. “Mornings are better with mommy,” she said. “The two of you are truly family to our whole family … you have made this the very best work experience of my entire life . . . [but] I need to be more like Cathy Doocy and Dawn Kilmeade.”

Though shaken and emotional, Hasselbeck said she was ultimately at peace with her choice. “This is a really really hard decision and I know that it’s the right one,” she shared.

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