Howard Stern was apparently blindsided by the rumors that he's about to get canceled by Sirius XM. Earlier this week, The US Sun dropped a bombshell report claiming that Stern and Sirius XM were parting ways after his current deal comes to an end at the end of the year.
"Stern's contract is up in the fall and while Sirius is planning to make him an offer, they don't intend for him to take it," one insider said of the impending end to the shock jock's latest five-year contract."
"Sirius and Stern are never going to meet on the money he is going to want. It's no longer worth the investment."
According to The Sun's sources, Stern was getting canceled over his political rants against Trump.
"After you saw what happened with Stephen Colbert, it's like they just can't afford to keep him going."
"If Sirius isn't going to give Stern a good offer, I don't think it would have anything to do with his ratings," the source claimed. "It's more likely everything to do with the political climate."
The Daily Mail is now reporting that the longtime radio host was shocked by the report after learning about it from a Google alert. Stern apparently planned to address the report live on his show but ultimately decided against it.
What staff didn't know was the bombshell came as a shock to Stern himself, who received it via a Google Alert as he finished dinner after a walk on the beach. His famous friends were quick to call, with Stern allegedly avoiding calls from actress and comedian, Ali Wentworth, and Jimmy Fallon.
He did, however, pick up the phone when longtime friend Jimmy Kimmel rang. 'First I'm hearing of it,' was all a reportedly stunned Stern could manage. Multiple sources confirmed Stern decided to make an 'emergency show' on Wednesday morning to quell concerns he was finished. Instead of addressing reports about the Howard Stern show's future, he spoke at length to Metallica's Lars Ulrich, another close friend. When he signed off, he assured listeners he'd be back on September 2.
Stern's staff is reportedly concerned that Sirius XM hasn't denied the rumors about Stern's impending cancellation.
As of now, neither Stern nor Sirius XM has publicly addressed the Sun's report.