It’s been eleven weeks since Bob Beckel appeared on Fox News Channel’s “The Five.” There’s been much speculation about the reasons for his ongoing absence, and now we’ve learned it involves more than a back injury. TVNewser reached out to Fox News, and a spokesperson confirmed Beckel is undergoing treatment for addiction:
“Bob Beckel has entered a rehab facility for treatment of an addiction to prescription pain medication. His relapse developed over the last several months as he tried to cope with extensive back pain before and after he underwent major back surgery. We hope our viewers and the public will respect Bob’s privacy during this difficult time.”
Beckel has not appeared on Fox since February, leading fans of “The Five” to repeatedly ask the show–and the network–to explain where he was. In March, Greg Gutfeld responded to viewers, saying that Beckel had undergone “major back surgery.”
Beckel’s status with Fox News, which stood by anchor Gregg Jarrett after an alcohol-related arrest and during his treatment for alcoholism, remains unchanged.