It was a breaking point. Sean Hannity, one of Fox News’ most recognizable voices, says he could not sit in a New York City restaurant without facing hate-filled stares. The television host revealed that the hostility, mixed with other frustrations, pushed him to abandon the city and relocate to Florida for good.
The Move to Florida
Sean Hannity announced his move in January 2024, leaving New York behind and calling Florida “the free state.” On his iHeartRadio show, he made it clear that his departure was final. “I am out. I am done. I’m finished,” he told his audience with a tone of finality. Hannity explained that he had endured enough and wanted a new beginning. Florida became the destination where he saw the life he wanted. The primetime Fox News host had already built his brand on sharp opinions, and now his personal life echoed the same decisive tone. Hannity framed his move as permanent and deeply personal.
During an interview with former New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio, Hannity broke down his reasons further. He cited taxes, quality of life, and crime as deciding factors in leaving. For him, these issues had stacked too high to ignore. While New York has been his professional base for years, the tipping point came quickly. Hannity linked his frustrations to broader concerns about how the city was being run. He spoke about the daily pressures that made life harder in the Big Apple. To Hannity, leaving was no longer a question but a necessity.
His decision came at a time when New York City was experiencing some improvements in safety. Earlier this month, the NYPD reported that July marked the tenth consecutive month of declines in major crime categories. The data painted a different picture than Hannity’s concerns. Yet Hannity stuck firmly to his narrative of rising crime and poor quality of life. His departure became less about statistics and more about his personal sense of security. The clash between perception and data only amplified the drama of his move. For Hannity, lived experience outweighed police reports.
Hostility in New York
Hannity revealed one of the most striking reasons for leaving: his treatment in public spaces. He said going out to restaurants in New York was unbearable. Strangers would stare, and the looks were anything but friendly. He described feeling hated and claimed the glares carried “daggers in their eyes.” It was an image of a city turning cold to a man who built a national platform on heated debate. For Hannity, this hostility was more than uncomfortable, it was a breaking point.
The Fox News star compared life in New York with his new reception in Florida. In contrast to the daggers he felt in New York, he said he was “loved down here.” Florida’s Republican-led climate felt more welcoming to him. He highlighted the shared values he felt with people around him. It was a stark difference that he emphasized in interviews. Where New York gave him hostility, Florida offered acceptance. Hannity’s words painted the move as not just geographic, but cultural.
His statement about intolerance in New York was blunt. “I don’t know why New Yorkers are so intolerant, but that was my life in New York, so I left,” he said. For him, the city had closed its doors, leaving him with no other option. The experience of being unwelcome shaped his perception of the entire environment. That personal lens became central to how he explained his move. It was not just politics or taxes but a deeper sense of rejection. Hannity left because the city no longer felt like home.
Life in the Sunshine State
Hannity described his new home in glowing terms. He listed the benefits: warmer weather, better quality of life, more freedom, and no state income tax. On his show, he broke it down point by point, underscoring why Florida was the better choice. Law and order, better education, and financial advantages topped his list. To him, the move offered an immediate upgrade. The message was simple: Florida gave him what New York did not.
Florida’s tax policies were a central part of his reasoning. The state is one of eight with no state income tax. That fact has long drawn residents from higher-tax states like New York. Hannity pointed to this financial relief as proof that his new home was better. He framed it as a win for both his personal finances and his overall freedom. For Hannity, the tax structure was not just a policy issue but a lifestyle shift.
Beyond taxes, Hannity highlighted the cultural and political fit. Florida’s leadership aligned more closely with his conservative views. He contrasted the Republican dominance in Florida with the Democratic majority in New York. Out of 12.4 million registered voters in New York, nearly half are Democrats, while in Florida, Republicans hold a strong edge among 15 million voters. Those numbers underscored the political landscape that Hannity now calls home. He made it clear that Florida was not just a new address, it was his new ground.