Emily Maitlis has addressed rumors swirling around her alleged dramatic exit from the Channel 4 News set during the network’s coverage of the U.S. presidential election results, where Donald Trump secured a sweeping victory.
Viewers were abuzz after claims surfaced that Maitlis stormed off in frustration, with one Twitter user even joking, “There’s a MAGA hat in the post to anyone who has the clip of @maitlis swearing and leaving the @Channel4News studio in disgrace.”
Responding to the speculation, Maitlis clarified the situation, replying, “Do I get one? Sadly no disgrace. Left to record @TheNewsAgents — for half an hour. episode here! https://linktr.ee/thenewsagents enjoy!” She insisted that she did not storm off in disgrace but had momentarily left the studio to record her podcast, The News Agents, alongside co-hosts Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall.
However, fans were quick to criticize Maitlis’s conduct on air. One comment read, “Your lack of professionalism shone through last night.
“You showed zero objectivity or balance and it’s now clear for all to see and caught on video for ever. This will be your Cathy Newman / Jordan Peterson clip.”
Another wrote: “It would have been a disgrace for anyone with an ounce of professionalism, or even just an adult with a normal level of control over their emotions.”
Others echoed similar sentiments, with one user saying: “Bit unprofessional, mind. When the pundits don’t understand the electorate and show clear bias, perhaps they are unsuitable for the job,” and another adding: “You showed the masses your true colours, last night was incredibly unprofessional.”
The incident came amid what was already a lively and sometimes chaotic broadcast.
Maitlis, who previously made headlines for her intense interview with Prince Andrew, landed in hot water after remarking on the “bats**t” nature of Trump’s comments regarding Haitian immigrants.
The language choice prompted her co-host Krishnan Guru-Murthy to playfully reprimand her, saying, “Stop swearing,” and reminding her that he often had to ask guests to curb their language on air.
Maitlis’s brief exit wasn’t the only eye-catching moment of the night.
The broadcast opened with former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson promoting his latest book to viewers. Waving a copy at the camera, Johnson was quickly told to stop by Guru-Murthy, who admonished: “Enough … it’s so cheap.”
Johnson shot back: “There’s absolutely nothing you can do to stop me … I’m allowed to plug my book.”
The former PM later accused Channel 4 of “massively skewed” coverage, prompting Channel 4 content chief Ian Katz, who was in Washington overseeing the broadcast, to post a photo of Johnson on social media before the show began.
Johnson was later replaced by other panelists, with Guru-Murthy quipping: “Boris Johnson has been fired for banging on about his book too much.”
