CNN anchor Chris Wallace was the first network star given the boot as the channel faces a staffing bloodbath in the face of cratering ratings.
Puck News reported that Wallace, who was paid $7 million a year, was told his two shows on the network were being axed by CEO Mark Thompson.
He was told he could stay on in a greatly-reduced role as an analyst on a far smaller salary, but decided not to, according to journalist Dylan Byers.
Wallace, a former Fox News star, ended up quitting and insisted his decision was entirely his own.
He now claims to be pursuing a career in ‘streaming or podcasting,’ but does not appear to have a new job lined up.
The weekly interview series Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace and Saturday morning discussion panel The Chris Wallace Show were on the chopping block when he quit.
Wallace maintains he was never discussing his options because he’d already decided to leave. Thompson’s decision had reportedly been relayed to Wallace’s agent.
‘It doesn’t matter what was or wasn’t said in that meeting because I had already decided with my wife six months ago to leave CNN,’ Wallace told Puck.
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www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14087301/cnn-layoffs-high-paid-host-leaving-pursue-podcasts.html
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