Official Statement on Recent Rumors and Future of “The Howard Stern Show”

Over recent days, multiple media reports have circulated claiming that Howard Stern was leaving SiriusXM, that his show had been canceled, or that he had been fired. These reports are not accurate. Below are the facts as officially confirmed:

It was a staged prank.
On the morning of September 8, 2025, Anderson “Andy” Cohen appeared as though he was taking over Howard Stern’s channel on SiriusXM, rebranding it “Andy 100,” and announcing Stern’s departure. This was not real. It was an elaborate stunt orchestrated by Howard Stern himself.

Howard Stern is staying with SiriusXM.
Immediately after the prank, Stern came on the air to dispel the rumors: he is continuing with his show, remains associated with SiriusXM, and refuted the claims of any cancellation or termination.

Contract negotiations are ongoing.
Stern’s current contract—a five‑year deal signed in 2020—expires at the end of 2025. Discussions between Stern and SiriusXM about a potential extension or the future direction are underway. No finalized deal or terms have been publicly disclosed yet. Stern has said that he is “very happy at Sirius.”

His recent absence was due to illness, not contract problems.
Some rumors had suggested that Stern was off‐air because of contract disputes or being pushed out. Officially, Stern says the delay in returning from his summer break was because he became “very sick” and needed time to recover.

False and misleading media coverage.
Several outlets mistakenly reported Stern’s departure. These reports were based on the prank and on speculation, rather than verified information. Stern addressed this directly, calling many stories “completely false.” He also dismissed rumors about discord involving other personalities (including Alex Cooper), claims of jealousy, or allegations that he was being let go for being “too woke.”

Personal reflections.
Stern said he “totally shut down” over the summer to consider his future. He admitted to having thought about retiring. However, he now feels bound by the speculation. As he put it: “What pisses me off is now I can’t leave.”

Summary / What to Expect Going Forward

Despite the prank, Howard Stern remains under contract (through end of 2025) with SiriusXM.

Both parties—Stern and SiriusXM—are continuing discussions about what comes next.

No official retirement or exit has been confirmed.

Media outlets have been asked to correct previous reports that implied Stern had already left.

Any updates about the contract, terms, or any changes in format will be announced by Stern or SiriusXM directly when finalized.