Howard Stern’s fake ‘axed’ stunt fooled millions… for an hour. Now his vengeful ‘mole hunt’ has staff members second guessing each other
Howard Stern is hunting a ‘mole’ inside his own radio empire after leaks about his contract talks sparked panic and finger-pointing among his 95-strong staff.
The 71-year-old shock jock lit up the rumor mill on Monday when listeners tuned in to his Howard 100 channel — only to hear Andy Cohen, 57, announcing a supposed rebrand to Andy 100.
‘I know you’re expecting a big announcement from Howard and this is not how things were meant to go,’ Cohen told the audience. ‘This was supposed to be a cleaner hand-off. I’m kind of winging it.’
The stunt had fans convinced Stern had been axed, with Cohen even admitting he could never ‘fill his void’.
Twenty minutes later Stern stormed on-air to thank Cohen for the prank — while stoking fresh speculation about his contract renewal, which he has so far refused to discuss.
But behind the laughs, tensions are boiling.
Howard Stern is hunting a ‘mole’ inside his own radio empire after leaks about his contract talks sparked panic and finger-pointing among his 95-strong staff; seen in 2014
Executive producer Gary Dell’Abate warned that a staff mole was leaking private details, including chatter from a Manhattan team-building party at Spin ping-pong bar.
Staffers are now pointing fingers at each other.
The inquisition has been handed to producer Memet Walker — a former U.S. Air Force airman trained in interrogation tactics.
Walker, who served the United States Air Force between 2006 to 2010, has denied accusations from colleagues that he is the mole himself.
The UNC-Chapel Hill graduate began working for The Howard Stern Show back in 2015.
Stern, who has ruled SiriusXM for nearly two decades, first caught wind of the rumors on September 2 when a Google Alert pinged his phone over dinner at his $21 million Southampton mansion.
That same night the staff gathering — meant to boost morale with cocktails and ping pong ahead of the show’s 20th season — descended into paranoia.
A senior producer had even toasted to ‘bigger, better guests’ and ‘the best radio we can do’.
Shaken by the whispers, Stern went live the following morning for an unscheduled ’emergency show’.
The inquisition has been handed to producer Memet Walker — a former U.S. Air Force airman trained in interrogation tactics
Walker, who served the United States Air Force between 2006 to 2010, has denied accusations from colleagues that he is the mole himself
But instead of clarifying his future, he spent most of it chatting with Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich.
Only at the end did Stern reassure listeners he would be back on September 2 — even as the mole hunt continues to tear through his crew.
Rumors that Stern had been let go from SiriusXM intensified last week after he delayed his return from summer vacation.
But on Monday, the veteran broadcaster addressed the chatter head-on during the opening of The Howard Stern Show.
‘I’m going to have to fill everyone in,’ Stern, 70, told listeners, explaining that his absence was due to illness, not stalled contract negotiations.
Stern, who has ruled SiriusXM for nearly two decades, first caught wind of the rumors on September 2 when a Google Alert pinged his phone over dinner at his $21 million mansion (pictured in 2006)
That same night the staff gathering — meant to boost morale with cocktails and ping pong ahead of the show’s 20th season — descended into paranoia
‘I was just getting so f*****g annoyed with everyone writing me, asking me if I was okay because I’d been fired,’ he admitted.
Stern recalled how he had been ‘minding my own business, enjoying my summer vacation’ when he saw a report claiming he had been ‘fired for being too woke’.
‘None of it is true, zero truth,’ Stern said firmly. ‘What p**ses me off is that now I can’t leave. I’ve been thinking about retiring. Now I can’t.’
Despite the speculation, Stern made it clear that he remains content: ‘I am very happy at Sirius.’
Stern joined what was then Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. in 2006, and quickly became one of the highest-paid figures in broadcasting, transforming the company’s fortunes.
Stern has been married to wife, Beth, since 2008 (pictured on August 28, 2025)
Since his arrival, SiriusXM has built a powerhouse lineup of talent including Trevor Noah, Andy Cohen, Kevin Hart, Stephen A. Smith, and hit podcasts such as Call Her Daddy, SmartLess, and Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.
Long before satellite radio, Stern carved out his reputation as the self-proclaimed ‘King of All Media’ during a 20-year run at WXRK in New York. At its peak, The Howard Stern Show aired in 60 markets nationwide and attracted more than 20 million listeners.
Drawn to satellite by both a record-setting payday and the freedom from FCC restrictions, Stern embraced the platform after years of clashes with regulators and nervous radio executives. His unfiltered on-air antics — from marching strippers through the studio to coaxing the Dixie Chicks into candid confessions about their sex lives — cemented his notoriety.
His 1997 autobiographical film Private Parts became a box office hit, offering a raw and humorous look at his rise to fame. Beyond radio, Stern has written bestselling books and served as a judge on America’s Got Talent from 2012 to 2015.
