Shocking Marriage Breakdown: Julie Banderas’ Final Words to Husband Move Viewers

July 29, 2025, 9:47 AM +07 – Veteran Fox News host Julie Banderas has left viewers stunned and reflective with a raw, emotional statement about her divorce from Andrew Sansone, ending their 14-year marriage. In a poignant moment on Gutfeld! last night, Banderas shared her final words to her former husband: “I wish you peace, but I found mine.” The heartfelt declaration, delivered with a mix of resolve and vulnerability, capped a tumultuous chapter marked by allegations of toxicity and a knife incident, leaving fans on X moved and sparking conversations about resilience and personal liberation.

Banderas, 51, announced her divorce in February 2023 on Gutfeld!, shocking viewers by declaring, “I’m getting a divorce. I am going to go ahead and say it right here for the very first time,” during a Valentine’s Day segment where she dismissed the holiday as “stupid.” The anchor, known for her roles on America’s Newsroom and Outnumbered, had been married to Sansone, a 55-year-old financial advisor, since 2009. The couple, who share three children—Addison, Avery, and Andrew Jr.—had a rocky relationship, with Banderas later revealing it was plagued by “constant fighting” and “demeaning comments” from Sansone, often in front of their kids. Her candidness about the marriage’s collapse, culminating in last night’s final words, resonated deeply with audiences.

The marriage breakdown was not without drama. In December 2022, Banderas called police after an alleged incident where Sansone pointed a steak knife at her throat during an argument over mashed potatoes, leading to his arrest for menacing and criminal possession of a weapon. A judge cleared Sansone in August 2023, ruling that Banderas’s testimony was inconsistent, noting she admitted to threatening to “plant” a damaging story about him to gain leverage in their divorce. Sansone’s attorney accused Banderas of using her platform on Gutfeld! to smear him, while Banderas stood by her account, stating, “I chose not to present compelling evidence to protect my family’s privacy.” The public feud, detailed by outlets like The Daily Mail, painted a picture of a “toxic” relationship, with sources claiming Sansone’s jealousy and putdowns eroded Banderas’s confidence.

Last night’s broadcast marked a turning point. Responding to Greg Gutfeld’s question about personal growth, Banderas reflected on her divorce, saying, “I spent years in a marriage that dimmed my light. To Andrew, I wish you peace, but I found mine.” The studio fell silent, a rare moment for the usually raucous show. Viewers on X erupted with emotion, one posting, “Julie Banderas’s final words to her ex? Pure strength. I’m crying.” Another wrote, “Her peace is inspiring—divorce isn’t failure, it’s freedom.” The hashtag #JulieBanderas trended, reflecting the profound impact of her vulnerability in a polarized media landscape.

Banderas’s journey mirrors her resilience. Born Julie Bidwell to a Colombian immigrant mother and a Navy veteran father, she graduated from Emerson College and rose through local news stations before joining Fox News in 2005. Her career highlights include a 2006 clash with Westboro Baptist Church’s Shirley Phelps-Roper, showcasing her fiery spirit, and her advocacy against school bullying, as seen in a 2022 segment supporting a Texas mother. Yet, her personal life has been marked by loss and struggle—her father’s death from Parkinson’s in 2010 left her devastated, and she’s spoken of regret over not having more children.

The divorce, finalized in 2024, was a “glow-up” for Banderas, who told The List she emerged stronger, focusing on her children and career. Her on-air persona, often bold and unapologetic, belies a vulnerability she’s shared sparingly, as in a 2011 tribute to her father: “He was my hero.” Her final words to Sansone reflect this duality—wishing him well while reclaiming her narrative. Fans see it as a testament to her strength, with one X post stating, “Julie’s not just a news anchor—she’s a survivor.”

The media’s response has been mixed. Conservative outlets like Breitbart praised her candor, while mainstream networks like CBS and NBC remained silent, echoing their restraint in recent controversies involving Karoline Leavitt and Stephen Colbert. This aligns with a 2025 Gallup poll showing only 31% of Americans trust mainstream media, fueling perceptions of selective coverage. Sansone, now seeking primary custody and support, has stayed private, with his attorney calling Banderas’s public comments “a misuse of her platform.”

Banderas’s story resonates beyond Fox News. Her openness about surviving a toxic marriage, coupled with her professional tenacity, inspires viewers navigating similar struggles. On X, one user reflected, “Julie’s words make me rethink staying in a bad relationship—peace is worth it.” Her children, now 14, 12, and 10, remain her focus, with Banderas sharing joyful family moments on Instagram despite the divorce’s messiness. As she moves forward, her final words to Sansone—delivered with grace and resolve—mark not an end but a new chapter, leaving viewers moved and reflective on the power of finding one’s peace.