In a surprise announcement, Shepard Smith just announced he's leaving Fox News effective IMMEDIATELY

Shepard Smith just announced on air that he asked to be released from his contract and Fox News obliged:

JUST IN: On air, Shepard Smith says he has asked to be released from his Fox News contract, a request Fox has granted.

"Even in our polarized nation, it's my hope that the facts will win the day…" he says in an on-air farewell.

— Steven Portnoy (@stevenportnoy) October 11, 2019

.@ShepNewsTeam Shepard Smith just dropped a bomb. After 23 years at @FoxNews , he announced he is leaving the network. He was part of the glue that held Fox together. He is a supreme pro who made us all better.

— John Roberts (@johnrobertsFox) October 11, 2019

This move is effective immediately:

Full video: Shepard Smith's final sign off from Fox News pic.twitter.com/5fgyM81Gbj

— Jon Passantino (@passantino) October 11, 2019

Everyone should have seen this coming:

Announcement from Fox News: Shepard Smith is stepping down from his role as chief news anchor. This afternoon's show was his last. Fissures between news and opinion at Fox News are for real.

— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) October 11, 2019

Did it take everyone by surprise?

Wow. Sounds like @foxnews colleagues had no idea @ShepNewsTeam was going to do what he just did . Wow

— Dave Ross (@drosssports) October 11, 2019

Tom Arnold isn’t happy about it one bit, however:

I’m not okay with this @ShepNewsTeam

— Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) October 11, 2019