After 24 years of covering literal war zones, hurricanes, and the falling of the Twin Towers, Rick Leventhal just… stopped. One day he was the face of breaking news at Fox News, and the next, he was basically gone. It felt sudden to viewers, especially since it happened right as his wife, Kelly Dodd, was getting the boot from The Real Housewives of Orange County.
People love a good conspiracy. Was he fired? Did his wife’s controversial social media posts sink his career? Honestly, the truth is a bit more "settle down in the suburbs" than most people realize, though it wasn't without its own brand of drama.
The Official Story: A Career "Walk Away"
In June 2021, Fox News released a statement that sounded like a standard corporate goodbye. They praised his "remarkable" work and thanked him for his 24 years of service. But the meat of the explanation was tucked inside: Rick had asked to stop reporting national breaking news.
He wanted to stay in Los Angeles. He had just married Kelly Dodd in late 2020 and moved West to be with her and her daughter, Jolie. Fox had actually accommodated him for a while, letting him work out of the L.A. bureau, but the job of a "Senior Correspondent" isn't exactly a desk job.
💡 You might also like: Mary J Blige Costume: How the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Changed Fashion Forever
Rick later cleared the air on a podcast, saying he simply didn't want to travel anymore. Think about it. For three and a half decades, he was the guy jumping on a plane the second a bomb went off or a category 5 hurricane formed. He said he was tired of "dropping everything" to run toward catastrophes. He wanted a life. He could afford to walk away, so he did.
Was Kelly Dodd the Real Reason?
You can't talk about why did rick leventhal leave fox news without mentioning the Kelly Dodd factor. At the time, Kelly was a lightning rod for controversy. Between her comments about the pandemic and her behavior on Bravo, she was constantly in the headlines for the "wrong" reasons.
When Rick’s departure was announced just days after Kelly was fired from RHOC, the internet went wild. Fans speculated that Fox News wanted to distance themselves from the baggage that came with the couple. There were rumors about legal teams and "high-powered attorneys" being involved, mostly fueled by Kelly’s own Instagram stories.
📖 Related: Mariah Kennedy Cuomo Wedding: What Really Happened at the Kennedy Compound
However, Rick has consistently maintained that his exit was his choice. He’s gone on record saying Fox was "very good" to him throughout the process. While the timing was suspicious to some, there’s no hard evidence that his wife’s reputation forced his hand. It seems more likely that the couple decided to pivot toward their own independent media projects together.
Life After the Newsroom
So, what does a veteran war correspondent do when he stops chasing disasters?
- The Rick & Kelly Show: They launched a YouTube channel and podcast. It’s a mix of pop culture, politics, and their personal lives. It’s definitely "unfiltered."
- Real Estate: Rick sold his long-time bachelor pad in the Hamptons (the one he renovated himself!) to fully commit to California life. They’ve been busy flipping and renting properties in places like Palm Desert and Newport Beach.
- Writing: He wrote a memoir titled Chasing Catastrophe. It covers his 35 years in the trenches of journalism, from 9/11 to the miracle on the Hudson.
- Newsmax: Recently, Rick made a return to the screen, hosting The Leventhal Report on Newsmax2. It’s a streaming gig that allows him to keep his toe in the water without the grueling travel of his Fox days.
The 2023 Health Scare
Leaving the stresses of the newsroom didn't mean Rick was totally safe. In early 2023, he survived a "horrifying" car crash on the I-10 near Palm Desert. He hit a patch of water, slammed into a wall, and then hit a tractor-trailer. He ended up with four broken ribs and a fractured foot.
👉 See also: La verdad sobre cuantos hijos tuvo Juan Gabriel: Entre la herencia y el misterio
He posted from his hospital bed, looking pretty banged up but grateful to be alive. It was a stark reminder that even after surviving war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, life can throw a curveball on a rainy Tuesday in California.
What This Means for Media Veterans
Rick’s exit is kind of a blueprint for the "modern" news exit. You don't have to stay until you're forced out or retired at 70.
- Diversification is key: He used his brand to build a podcast and a real estate portfolio.
- Location matters: He prioritized his marriage and lifestyle over a prestige title in New York.
- Independent platforms: He proved you can take a loyal audience from a major network and move them to YouTube or Newsmax.
The "why" behind his departure isn't a single event. It was a mix of career burnout, a new marriage, and a desire to control his own schedule. He traded the "front lines" for a microphone in his living room and a home renovation project. Kinda sounds like a win, honestly.
If you’re following Rick’s current projects, the best move is to check out his latest reporting on Newsmax2 or tune into his podcast to see how he’s navigated the transition from "objective reporter" to "unfiltered commentator."