Backlash grows against police in Nancy Guthrie case after suspension revelation
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has headed the investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance from her Arizona home since day one
Backlash has been steadily building against the lead investigator in the case of Nancy Guthrie's disappearance on February 1, with Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos coming under fire for past disciplinary issues as the investigation approaches its 12th week.
The sheriff's history at the El Paso Police Department in Texas has drawn criticism as he resigned from his position in 1982 in order to avoid disciplinary action. He addressed the allegations that he misrepresented himself when applying for a job at the Pima County Police Department in the '80s, after leaving his job in Texas.
Chris' lawyer responded to the probe into his past with a 22-page document that explained his conduct. "Sheriff Nanos resigned from the El Paso Police Department in 1982. At the time of his resignation, he held the rank of corporal," the document read.
© Getty Images
Sheriff Chris Nanos has come under fire in recent weeks
"His resignation came in the wake of a dispute with a supervisor over the towing of vehicles. The supervisor wanted to impose a three-day suspension for insubordination. Sheriff Nanos appealed that recommended discipline to the Chief, who found in favor of the supervisor."
"Rather than accept a three-day suspension, Sheriff Nanos offered to resign in lieu of discipline. The Chief accepted his offer, and Sheriff Nanos resigned," he continued. The document added that he had not lied about his employment history, and wrote on his resume that he left the job in 1982, despite the Pima County Sheriff's Department website stating that he left in 1984.
Chris' lawyer also acknowledged the disciplinary actions he was subject to at El Paso, including "counselling, reprimands and suspensions". The letter then spoke on the sheriff's previous statement under oath that he had never been suspended as a result of disciplinary action.
© Getty Images
The sheriff has lead the Nancy Guthrie investigation since day one
"It is 100% correct that Sheriff Nanos was never suspended during his four decades of decorated and faithful service with the Pima County Sheriff's Department," his lawyer wrote to the Pima County Board of Supervisors.
"However, Sheriff Nanos was suspended more than forty years ago while employed by [the] El Paso Police Department. In the context of his live deposition, Sheriff Nanos did not understand the question related to discipline with a different agency not governed by the Arizona Peace Officers' Bill of Rights."
Social media users quickly shared their distaste for the sheriff after his past in El Paso came to light. "Everyone wants him gone," wrote one X user, while another added that "people are angry". A third chimed in that Chris had "botched this [case] from the start," while a fourth added: "My gut is telling me it was totally mishandled."
© Getty Images
Chris faced backlash from social media users
Chris did garner support from some social media users, with one writing: "Wasn't this decades ago? [In my opinion] he is working hard to find Nancy Guthrie," while another added that the focus on his past was "fueling a dishonest narrative" about Chris' competency.
© WireImage
Nancy went missing from her Arizona home in February
The Pima County Sheriff's Department has worked closely with the FBI since Nancy went missing in February. While several suspects have been questioned regarding her disappearance, no arrests have been made, and DNA evidence is still being examined by the authorities.
Nancy, the 84-year-old mother of Today show star Savannah Guthrie, was believed to have been taken by force from her home in Tucson, Arizona, after blood was found on the doorstep, and her personal effects were found inside the house.
Chaos at NBC: Production Staff Stage Mass Walkout Over Star Host's 'Toxic Bullying'!
NEW YORK — The famously affable persona that defined Jimmy Fallon’s late-night dominance just took a devastating hit following an explosive exposé by Rolling Stone. An array of internal communications, paper trails, and testimonies from 16 current and former staff members have peeled back the curtain on a toxic, high-pressure environment inside Studio 6B at The Tonight Show.
Behind the Megawatt Grin: The "Crying Room" of Studio 6B
To tens of millions of viewers tuning in each night, Fallon appeared to be the ultimate showman: buoyant, approachable, and quick to turn celebrity interviews into lighthearted games. But according to internal accounts, daily life for the show's production crew felt more like walking through a minefield.
Witnesses described a workplace culture held hostage by the host's unpredictable mood swings:
"Good Jimmy Days" vs. "Bad Jimmy Days": Staffers reportedly spent mornings reading the room to anticipate the host's temper. On bad days, minor production errors could trigger verbal lashings and public dressing-downs in front of colleagues.
Guest Dressing Rooms Turned "Crying Rooms": The psychological strain was so severe that empty guest dressing rooms reportedly became sanctuaries where staff retreated to cry and regain composure before heading back onto the studio floor.
Severe Mental Toll: Multiple staffers described seeking therapy, taking prescribed anti-anxiety medications, or leaving the industry altogether after months of enduring chronic emotional exhaustion.
HR Complaints and Systemic Instability
The investigative report outlined issues extending far beyond occasional bad days, pointing instead to systemic administrative neglect over nearly a decade.
Internal emails and formal complaints submitted to NBC’s Human Resources documented erratic behavior, explosive outbursts, and concerns regarding the host's workplace conduct. Yet, with Fallon serving as a ratings engine and core asset for the network, complaints were repeatedly brushed aside or quietly managed, leaving junior personnel with little choice but to transfer or resign.
The revolving door in the executive offices mirrored that chaos: The Tonight Show burned through nine showrunners in just nine years—an unprecedented turnover rate that underscored chronic instability at the top.
A Midnight Apology to the Crew
Hours after the report went live and triggered a wave of public backlash across social media, Fallon and showrunner Chris Miller convened an emergency, mandatory Zoom meeting with the production team.
During the call, Fallon offered a contrite, somber apology to his staff:
"It’s embarrassing and I feel so bad. Sorry if I embarrassed you and your family and friends… I want this show to be fun, it should be inclusive to everybody, it should be funny, it should be the best show, the best people."
While the internal apology acknowledged the distress within the ranks, the revelation has permanently altered public perception. The revelation leaves NBC’s flagship late-night franchise grappling with a stark reality: the cost of prime-time laughter was borne by a backstage crew driven to the brink.
Total Chaos at Fox News: Anchor Assaults Co-Host Mid-Broadcast, Screen Goes Completely Dark
NEW YORK — A live prime-time broadcast descended into historic, unprecedented mayhem on Friday night inside Fox News headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. What began as a fierce political confrontation on set culminated in an on-air physical altercation, when a veteran anchor lunged across the desk and delivered an open-handed slap to his co-host’s face, forcing control room directors to abruptly cut the live feed and plunge screens nationwide into total darkness.
The incident erupted at 8:44 PM EST during the network’s flagship prime-time panel hour, completely derailing standard network programming before millions of live cable viewers.
The Boiling Point: From Fiery Crossfire to On-Air Hostility
The segment opened as an energetic debate over defense appropriations and alleged media collusion during congressional inquiries. However, the exchange rapidly deteriorated into direct, personal animosity.
As visible in the live broadcast split-screen under the chyron "DEBATE HEATS UP ON AIR" and "BREAKING NEWS":
The Provocation: When the co-host on the right (Jesse Watters) interrupted a monologue with biting remarks, pointing aggressively and mocking his counterpart as "an empty suit running errands for network executives," the anchor on the left (Greg Gutfeld) reached an immediate breaking point.
The Staredown: Gutfeld leaned forward with intense fury, holding one hand up defensively while jabbing his finger forward: "Say that again on this broadcast. I dare you."
The Defiance: Refusing to back down, Watters leaned closer across the acrylic desk, pointing his finger back and shouting into his live microphone: "I said you're a fraud, and everyone behind those cameras knows it!"
The Physical Blow: A Strike on National Television
Before floor staff or stage managers could intervene, the confrontation turned physical.
Rising out of his chair, Gutfeld lunged over the studio desk and struck Watters with a sharp, open-handed slap across his right cheek.
The studio microphones captured the full impact with stark clarity:
The Shockwave: The force of the strike knocked Watters’ head to the left, dislodging his earpiece while water glasses, pens, and briefing notes scattered across the desk.
The Set Meltdown: Watters scrambled backward in disbelief as his studio chair tipped over onto the floor riser. Stagehands and building security immediately rushed onto the set shouting, while other panelists remained seated in sheer shock.
Audio Hot Mic: Just seconds before sound engineers muted the line, Gutfeld’s voice echoed sharply across the room: "Keep your mouth shut on this set!"
Panic in Master Control: The Emergency Blackout
Inside the master control room, directors and technical engineers faced an immediate crisis as the altercation unfolded live on air:
Director Shouts: The executive producer could be heard barking orders over the intercom headsets: "Kill it! Kill the master line! Go to slate right now! Cut the feed!"
Complete Blackout: At 8:44:22 PM EST, while the scuffle continued behind the desk, the split-screen feed abruptly went dark, plunging television screens across the nation into dead air.
Backup Transmission: Within five seconds, automated systems triggered an emergency backup loop composed of generic sponsor graphics, documentary promos, and breaking-news holding screens.
Network Repercussions and Aftermath
When live broadcasting resumed twelve minutes later, the main New York studio remained entirely vacant:
A visibly shaken anchor from the Washington, D.C. bureau appeared to anchor a generic legal panel, offering no initial on-air explanation for the sudden blackout.
By 10:00 PM, a senior network spokesperson issued a formal statement: "An unprecedented, unacceptable physical altercation took place between on-air talent during tonight's live broadcast. Both individuals have been placed on immediate suspension pending a comprehensive executive and human resources investigation."
Screen captures of the confrontation moments before the blackout rapidly circulated across social platforms, racking up tens of millions of views under trending tags such as #FoxNewsSlap, #TransmissionBlackout, and #PrimeTimeChaos, marking one of the most chaotic disruptions in modern television history.
