Shepard Smith on Roger Ailes: ‘I Loved Him Like a Father’

Shepard Smith has seemingly confirmed his long-rumored sexuality in a recent feature with The Huffington Post.

Smith talked in detail about the 2014 allegations that former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes prevented him from coming out and even demoted him over his sexuality. "That's not true," he told HuffPo. "He was as nice as he could be to me. I loved him like a father. I trusted him with my career and with -- I trusted him and trusts were betrayed. People outside this company can't know [how painful that betrayal was]. This place has its enemies, but inside, it was very personal, and very scarring and horrifying."

Ailes resigned from Fox this summer over accusations of sexual harassment, which Smith reported on--one of the few Fox staff to do so.

When asked if he ever heard homophobic remarks at Fox, Smith defended his former boss. "No, never. [Ailes] treated me with respect, just respect," he said.

Smith is regularly included in Out'sPower List; in 2015, the anchor's sexuality was called one of "Fox News' worst kept secrets."