New York City media is a revolving door. One morning you're eating your cereal watching a familiar face, and the next, they've vanished into the digital ether without so much as a goodbye. If you’ve been searching for the truth about pix11 news anchors fired, you know the "official" statements from stations like WPIX are usually about as transparent as a brick wall.
Look, the TV news business is brutal. Contracts end, ratings dip, or sometimes—as we've seen recently—lawsuits fly. People get attached to their local anchors. They feel like family. So when a seat at the desk goes cold, the rumors start swirling. Is it a "mutual departure"? Or did something go down behind the scenes?
The Ojinika Obiekwe Lawsuit: More Than Just a Contract Ending
Honestly, the biggest shockwave to hit the station lately wasn't just a departure; it was a full-blown legal battle. In early 2025, former PIX11 entertainment anchor Ojinika Obiekwe filed a lawsuit that pulled back the curtain on the station's culture.
Obiekwe wasn't just some newcomer. She had been there for over 20 years, starting as an intern in 2001. When she was let go, the station basically said her contract wasn't being renewed. Simple, right? Not according to her. Her lawsuit claims she was fired for speaking out against what she called a "plantation-like" environment.
The allegations are heavy. She claimed she was doing the work of three people while white male peers with less experience got more support. When she complained to the news director, she was allegedly told to stop because she was making people "uncomfortable." Then, she was out. The station cited "insubordination" and "failure to perform duties," but the timing feels messy to anyone watching from the outside.
💡 You might also like: Wisconsin Judicial Elections 2025: Why This Race Broke Every Record
Why Tamsen Fadal Actually Left the Desk
People often lump Tamsen Fadal into the "fired" category because her exit felt so sudden to long-time viewers. But Tamsen’s story is a bit different. After 15 years as the face of the primetime news, she walked away in late 2023 to reinvent herself.
She didn't get the boot. She chose to leave the 4, 5, 6, and 10 p.m. broadcasts to focus on her "midlife" brand and advocacy for women. It’s a classic case of burnout meets new opportunity. In a world where pix11 news anchors fired is a common search term, it's easy to assume everyone was pushed out, but Tamsen basically said, "I'm 52, and I want to do something else." She’s still around, hosting "The Broadway Show," but her absence from the daily news desk was a massive blow to the station's consistency.
Who is Still There? (The Survivors)
Despite the chaos, some legends are still standing.
- Kaity Tong: The literal GOAT of New York news. She was recently inducted into the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame (Class of 2025). She’s still anchoring weekends.
- Dan Mannarino: He’s been taking on more of the "heavy lifting" since the big departures. You’ll see him leading "PIX on Politics" and looking ahead to the 2026 election cycle.
- Kori Chambers: Still a staple of the 6 and 10 p.m. slots. He’s very active in the community, often hosting events like the ADAPT Holiday Cheer Celebration.
The Nexstar Factor: A Business of Cuts
You can't talk about local news layoffs without talking about the parent company. Nexstar Media Group owns WPIX. They are known for being... let's say, "fiscally disciplined."
📖 Related: Casey Ramirez: The Small Town Benefactor Who Smuggled 400 Pounds of Cocaine
Across the country in 2025, Nexstar and other major media groups like Scripps have been trimming the fat. In San Diego, dozens of veteran journalists were cut in one fell swoop. While PIX11 hasn't seen a "Red Wedding" style mass firing recently, the trend is moving toward leaner teams and more syndicated content.
Basically, the era of the "million-dollar local anchor" is dying. If an anchor’s salary doesn't match the shrinking ad revenue of traditional TV, they become a target for "non-renewal." It’s cold, but that's the business.
Misconceptions About "The Firing"
Most of the time, an anchor isn't "fired" in the way you'd get fired from a retail job. They have contracts. When those contracts expire, the station simply chooses not to sign a new one. To the viewer, it looks like they were fired. To the station's lawyers, it’s just a business decision.
There was a rumor about a priest-turned-anchor who was fired for using a slur on a hot mic—that happened, but it’s an outlier. Most departures are quiet, handled with a 30-second tribute video on a Friday night, and then the person is scrubbed from the website by Monday morning.
👉 See also: Lake Nyos Cameroon 1986: What Really Happened During the Silent Killer’s Release
What This Means for Your News Habit
If you're wondering why your favorite face is gone, it usually boils down to three things:
- Money: Nexstar wants to save it.
- Direction: The station is trying to capture a younger, "hip" audience (which often fails).
- Conflict: Like the Obiekwe case, internal friction eventually bubbles over.
The takeaway? Don't get too attached. Local news in 2026 is more about the brand than the person.
Next Steps for Viewers:
If you want to support specific anchors who have left, follow them on social media. Tamsen Fadal has a massive following on Instagram and YouTube where she’s actually more active than she ever was on TV. For updates on the Obiekwe lawsuit, keep an eye on New York court filings, as that case is expected to drag through much of 2026. If you're missing a specific reporter, check their LinkedIn; many are moving into PR or independent "creator" roles because the stability of the newsroom just isn't what it used to be.