Additional Coverage:
- The Five host makes viewers ‘cry’ after opening up about personal tragedy connected to 9/11 (themirror.com)
On the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Fox News host Jessica Tarlov shared a deeply personal and emotional story that resonated with viewers across the political spectrum. Known as the lone liberal voice on the panel of The Five, Tarlov is often at odds with her co-hosts who generally support Donald Trump. However, during Friday’s episode, the conversation took a somber turn as the hosts commemorated the tragic day.
Tarlov, 42, revealed how 9/11 had a profound impact on her own family. She spoke about her older daughter, who recently started kindergarten, participating in a moment of silence for the attacks.
“Watching kids as young as four-and-a-half and five, not knowing why they’re doing this, and thinking about how you explain something like this to them as they get older,” Tarlov shared, her voice visibly emotional. She explained that while her daughter knows her grandfather has passed away, she hasn’t yet been told that his death was connected to cancer caused by exposure to toxic air after 9/11.
Reflecting on the ongoing legacy of the attacks, Tarlov mentioned the newly released 170,000 documents regarding the air quality in New York City post-9/11 and the additional bell rung at the memorial site. The gesture was a poignant reminder of the many who continue to suffer and succumb to illnesses linked to that day.
Struggling to hold back tears, Tarlov concluded, “Anyway, it’s a tough day.” Her candid moment moved many viewers, some of whom took to social media expressing their sympathy and admiration for her openness.
Tarlov has previously shared this story in her book, I Disagree: Winning Arguments Without Losing Friends, recounting how she learned just before her wedding that her father’s long battle with tongue cancer had entered its final stages. Mark Tarlov, who lived in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood, developed the cancer after exposure to the toxic conditions in the aftermath of the attacks.
Despite his declining health, he attended Jessica’s wedding in April 2021, though he was hospitalized several times afterward. He passed away in July 2021, months before Jessica welcomed her first child.
The Five continues to air weekdays on Fox News, where moments like this one provide a reminder of the enduring human impact behind historic events.