Fox News host Sean Hannity explained that recent changes in his voice and appearance are due to a pinched nerve, adding that he is on the mend and has no plans to step away “anytime soon.”
The veteran anchor and longtime supporter of President Donald Trump has been the subject of growing social media speculation in recent weeks, with viewers raising questions over his raspy voice and swollen face.
“Thanks to everyone who has checked in,” the 64-year-old wrote on X on Wednesday. “I’ve already addressed this several times on my radio show, but while training, I developed a painful pinched nerve in my neck.”
He said his doctor prescribed him prednisone, a steroid, to fight inflammation, and while it has provided relief, it also led to laryngitis and “some puffiness,” which he said is normal.
“I’m fine, recovering well, and still training, but apparently a few weeks of prednisone has generated more social media commentary than 30 years of ratings success,” Hannity quipped.
“I appreciate all the concern and well wishes—including from members of the left-wing media,” he continued. “Sorry to disappoint them, but a pinched nerve, a raspy voice, and a puffy face aren’t taking me out anytime soon.”
In the days leading up to his post, numerous social media users noted that the television and radio host looked and sounded different than usual during his broadcasts.
On June 23, an X user posted a clip of Hannity discussing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, in which the host’s voice appears to crack while he pronounces the mayor’s name. “He’s like choking up,” the user captioned the post, which drew more than 1 million views.
“His mouth is moving very weird. He is talking very slow,” one person responded.
Others also remarked that Hannity’s face appeared enlarged.
“He looks like a bobble head doll,” one wrote, while another responded with a GIF of the Star Wars character Jabba the Hutt.
Hannity, who previously amplified claims from 2020 election deniers but later testified in court that he knew Trump had lost the election, also addressed the issue Monday on his radio show.
“Don’t I sound better today? Aren’t you excited to hear my voice back?” he asked his co-host Lynda McLaughlin, according to Mediaite. McLaughlin responded: “I am, and I think America is excited that you’re not dying of a stroke.”
Elsewhere in the episode, Hannity said: “I actually went to a doctor, and what he said is I had a bad sinus infection, which led to laryngitis, and I didn’t wanna take this crappy medicine called prednisone, and so he just said to ride it out, don’t worry about it, you’re not hurting your vocal chords at all.”
