Thirty-three-year-old FOX News audio anchor and writer Matt Napolitano tragically passed away on December 23rd after a very brief illness leaving behind his husband of seven months, Ricky Whitcomb.

Napolitano’s sudden death was announced by Whitcomb on X.

“With a heavy heart I have to share that my husband @MattNapolitano passed away yesterday morning,” Whitcomb wrote on Christmas Eve. “He loved his job and he loved bringing the news to your radios and televisions.”

“In other posts on social media, Whitcomb said Napolitano had been living with an autoimmune disease for nearly 20 years and died from an infection,” USA Today reported.

With a heavy heart I have to share that my husband @MattNapolitano passed away yesterday morning. He loved his job and he loved bringing the news to your radios and televisions. An honest journalist who truly cared about facts. You can thank him for the last minute Jets win today pic.twitter.com/I4fszUMAeh

— ricky (@whickywhit) December 25, 2023

Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott broke the sad news to staff at the network over the holiday weekend.

“Matt did everything from anchoring to writing and producing for our audio platforms and loved being able to work in the journalism field that he trained for his entire life,” her memo stated, according to USA Today.

Napolitano began his career on the SiriusXM dedicated news channel, “FOX News Headlines 24/7.” He became a sports writer for the media outlet.

“Matt returned to FOX News Audio as an update anchor and reporter following a brief departure. He wrote, produced, and anchored on all FOX Audio platforms,” Fox News reported.

I’m stunned and so very sad to learn of the death of our @foxnewsradio colleague, @MattNapolitano. He was a great guy & appeared on the show numerous times, typically talking sports. 33 years old. My gosh. My prayers go to his family. Gutwrenching. I can’t believe it. RIP.

— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) December 24, 2023

“He also appeared on FOX Business Network’s ‘Cavuto: Coast to Coast’ with the latest sports headlines and worked closely with the team at FOX’s affiliate news service, FOX News Edge, voicing packages for various affiliates,” the outlet noted.

Napolitano previously competed on “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune.”

His death is one of two that struck Fox News over the Christmas holiday. Fox’s director of Chicago bureau operations Adam Petlin passed away on the same day as Napolitano from bone cancer.

Absolutely gutted to hear that our great friend Matt Napolitano is no longer with us. This was him doing his Trump impersonation on Wheel of Fortune. Matt was a truly gifted entertainer, presenter, but most importantly – a truly great and selfless person.

RIP, Matt. pic.twitter.com/8IDuv0PEw5

— Siddique Farooqi (@SidFar_) December 24, 2023

Petlin was 58 and worked with Fox News for nearly 30 years. He was one of the first field photographers hired by the news outlet, according to The Hill.

“He was a natural leader and was quickly promoted to supervisor, setting the standard for all major interviews and events,” Scott said in a separate statement. “Adam led the first Fox camera crew on scene in downtown Manhattan on September 11th and captured the devastation that immediately unfolded that day, delivering the very news that changed the world to millions of viewers.”

Bone cancer. Poor man had bone cancer. Again….not the ‘jab’
“Adam Petlin, who joined Fox News weeks after its debut in 1996 and was longtime head of Chicago bureau operations, died on Dec. 23 after a long illness. He was 58.” https://t.co/APOH6eQybM

— MichelleGoldenRetrieverMomma (@Michell39214369) December 27, 2023

He is survived by his wife, Lauren, as well as his 18-year-old daughter, Ava, and his 14-year-old son, Luca.

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