Major news organizations, including the Associated Press and CNBC, got tricked by Howard Stern on Monday when he pulled off an elaborate prank on SiriusXM listeners. For a while now, there’s been speculation about whether he would remain with the network when his contract ends this year. People were expecting a live appearance from him on Monday, but instead, Andy Cohen took the mic, leaving fans surprised.
“This may not be the voice you were waiting for, and perhaps not the one you wanted, but it’s me, Andy Cohen,” he said. “Welcome to our first day at Andy 100. I, for one, was hoping for an announcement from Howard.” There had been a lot of buzz surrounding Stern’s future. “Will he be let go? I can’t say much except he’s not here,” Cohen continued. “The higher-ups at Howard’s team and SiriusXM decided this was the best move for now.”
Cohen kept the joke alive for a few minutes, encouraging Stern’s fans to check out his new show. Eventually, Stern joined in, expressing gratitude to Cohen for the prank and clearing up the false rumors regarding his departure from Sirius. “I orchestrated all of this so that nobody would think it was true,” he admitted. “Here’s the reality: SiriusXM and my team are discussing how we’ll be moving forward. They’ve been great, sitting down with me as they always do.”
The Associated Press quickly published a story based on the prank, only to later update it, clarifying that Stern did not, in fact, leave SiriusXM. “This story was initially published on September 8, 2025, and was updated to correct the misinformation about Howard Stern’s departure,” read the AP editor’s note.
The prank gained attention on CNBC, where Andrew Ross Sorkin and Rebecca Quick announced breaking news, stating that Howard Stern had split from SiriusXM after nearly two decades. It was only later that Quick explained it was all part of the bit. “He trolled viewers by having Andy Cohen take over,” she remarked, seemingly amused, adding that this was one of the best moves Stern could make.
Meanwhile, Variety ran a story claiming Stern’s show had been canceled but later corrected the information as well. It’s worth noting that the shock jock’s influence has diminished in recent years, especially with his more liberal stance. Still, he has not disclosed whether he’s renewed his contract with SiriusXM, which is set to expire at the end of 2025.
