Geraldo Rivera celebrates 80th birthday just DAYS after he resigns from Fox News following The Five sacking

Geraldo Rivera kept a positive attitude on his 80th birthday, despite his recent resignation from Fox News following his dismissal from The Five on the network. 

‘I got a lot to celebrate,’ the television host maintained during an appearance on Fox and Friends last Friday. 

He acknowledged that it was his last day on the network, as he had decided to quit entirely after being fired from The Five.

‘I want to leave thinking about how wonderful everyone has been to me throughout the last 23 years,’ the former CNBC host added.  

During his last appearance on Fox News, the show aired a tribute to Geraldo’s decades long career in journalism. 

Co-workers to the end: The Fox and Friends co-hosts jokingly wore fake mustaches at one point to honor their former Fox colleague 

Although it was a goodbye, the Brooklyn-born journalist made it clear that there was no hard feelings between him and the network.

‘I love Fox, I love the people at Fox, I always will,’ the HisPanic: Why Americans Fear Hispanics in the U.S. declared.

He originally joined the network back in 2001, after being a CNBC host for nearly seven years.

The journalist had dreamed of being a war correspondent, finally achieving his goal when he transitioned over to Fox, according to People.

‘I went to the war and … it took me around the world,’ the Geraldo At Large host recounted. 

‘Life takes you strange places, but it established a relationship with Fox that people would not ordinarily think of as a natural relationship because of political ideologies and so forth.’ he added. 

The Peabody Award winning reporter (he won for his coverage on exposing the abusive practices at the Willowbrook State School back in the 70s) believed that his colleagues at Fox were like ‘family’ to him. 

The daytime talk show host emphasized that he had so much, ‘affection for the people in this building.’ 

Boots on the ground: The former co-host of The Five has been a professional reporter since the 70s; seen in a Wounded Soldiers in Guatemala segment in 1978

Famous faces: Fox and Friends aired a special tribute to Geraldo’s career, featuring moments where he spoke with famous figures like Paul McCartney

Let freedom ring: The Fox News mainstay was born on America’s Independence Day, July 4

While the talk show host and seasoned journalist was departing the network he had called home for years, Geraldo acknowledged that there were other milestones in his life worth celebrating. 

His birthday fell around the same time as his, ’20th wedding celebration with [his wife] Erica.’ 

In addition to his birthday and wedding anniversary, the Geraldo host had his daughter Sol’s 18th birthday to look forward to celebrating as well. 

‘I will always remember this morning,’ the Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults host stated during his emotional final appearance on Fox and Friends. 

‘It is something that I didn’t expect, this celebration is beyond the beyond,’ he added with gratitude.  

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