Popular Fox News host Julie Banderas has been weathering a storm of family upheavals. Banderas, who joined the Fox News Channel in 2005, serves as a substitute weekday anchor on Outnumbered. She was awarded the ‘Outstanding Single Newscast’ Emmy for her coverage of the Republican National Convention in 2004.
Banderas’ social media posts are often filled with photos of their children – Addison, Avery, and Andrew – doing various activities, including their daughter Avery singing. But little was seen of Andrew Sansone, Banderas’ husband.
Sansone, a financial advisor, filed for divorce in March. The pair continued to live together but argued more often as their divorce proceeded in the courts. Banderas announced their split on her Twitter account on December 9, saying her husband was going to be her ‘soon to be ex,’ in response to a fan telling her the couple had left them in ‘stitches,’ Daily Mail reported.
It was five days later that an incident occurred in which Sansone allegedly threatened Banderas with a knife.
Sansone, who is soon to be Banderas’ ex-husband, allegedly pointed a knife at his wife during a Dec. 14 argument at their apartment in the Hamptons, according to a police report seen by the UK’s Daily Mail. According to the outlet, the police report said that the couple had argued throughout the day about finances and money as well as their upcoming divorce.
As the evening drew near, the 55-year-old Sansone allegedly got upset with his wife after she ate some mashed potatoes that he had made for the couple’s three children.
Fox's Julie Banderas husband arrested for holding knife to her throat https://t.co/R20Ym6t9Ll via https://t.co/leSeSKZkQT
— Shirley Hunt (@chunt43724sh) February 17, 2023
The Fox anchor, 49, claimed her husband grabbed a knife from the kitchen and pointed the blade at her neck, causing her to fear for her life, the police report states. The police report said that Sansone, at one point, “grabbed a knife from the kitchen and pointed the blade at her neck, causing her to fear for her life.” Their three children, ages 6, 10 and 12, were not in the same room and were in another part of the couple’s home at the time of the alleged incident, Conservative Brief reported.
Despite the seriousness of the attack, Banderas waited five days to call police on December 19, and her husband of 14 years was led out of the home by officers while the kids were off at school, sources told Daily Mail. Sansone was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon as well as menacing.
A judge later granted a restraining order prohibiting him from having further contact with his wife. However, he retains the right to visit the children, through curbside pickups, sources told Daily Mail. A source told the outlet that “a judge later granted a restraining order prohibiting him from having further contact with his wife. However, he retains the right to visit the children, through curbside pickups.”
According to the police report, the couple were arguing about money – a common flashpoint as the two battled over their pending divorce and child custody issues, sources told Daily Mail. The sources said that Sansone is pursuing primary custody of their kids as well as financial support from his more successful spouse.
Last week, Banderas, 49, appeared to stun the audience when she announced her pending divorce on the network’s popular late-night show, “Gutfeld!” During a segment after show regular Tyre downplayed Valentine’s Day, Gutfeld asked Banderas if she was ‘going to get anything, and she fired back: “F**k Valentine’s Day. Yeah, it’s stupid. Even when I was married I didn’t get s**t for Valentine’s Day…”
“Wait — are you no longer married?” Gutfeld asked, surprised. She then dropped the bomb: “Well, I’m getting a divorce, I’m going to go ahead and say it right here for the very first time.”
Fox News anchor Julie Banderas dropped some "breaking news" on Gutfeld! tonight. And during a Valentine's Day segment, of all things!
"Well, I am going to get a divorce. I am going to say it right here for the first time." pic.twitter.com/ZJg1WWCPJ1
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) February 10, 2023
She joked about the matter. “Congratulations are in order, if you know me, you’d clap. That was breaking news, right there,” joked the 18-year Fox veteran, who married Sansone in 2009.
Banderas then riffed again on Valentine’s Day: It’s stupid, it’s absolutely ridiculous. By the way, guys, if you are going to get your girl flowers, don’t bring them to her in a box. That’s the only advice I’ve got for you. If you come to be in a box, you better be dead.” The bitter joke was dark, considering the violent attack that took place.
Over the years, Banderas rarely spoke publicly about her marriage, but two sources close to her said they’d had a rocky relationship, telling Daily Mail that Sansone seemed uncomfortable with his wife’s fame and fortune. He’d often belittle her, even in front of the children, they said.
Sources told the Daily Mail that the couple fought regularly. Sansone works for Allied Wealth Partners, which ‘provides financial security for individuals and businesses in the forms of insurance,’ according to the company’s website. Banderas’ job is obviously more high-profile as she is an Emmy award-winning TV star.
