From on-air divorce bombshell to children’s author: Julie Banderas reinvents herself

Julie Banderas has never been one to hold back, and when it came time to break the news about her love life, she did it the only way she knows how: live, unscripted, and with maximum sarcasm.

The longtime Fox News anchor went viral in February 2023 when she casually announced on Gutfeld! that she was getting divorced, all during a cheeky Valentine’s Day segment.

“Well, I am going to get a divorce. I am going to say it right here for the first time,” Banderas declared on air.
“Thank you, everyone. Congratulations are in order! That is breaking news!”

A Not-So-Romantic Valentine’s Day Reveal

While most Valentine’s Day segments stick to chocolates and clichés, Banderas flipped the script, and didn’t hold back her true feelings.

“F* Valentine’s Day,” she said during the broadcast.
“It is stupid — even when I was married, I didn’t get s
***!”

The moment exploded online. Viewers praised her no-nonsense energy, while one fan joked:

“You’re not an adult until you’ve been divorced once.”
To which she replied:
“Yeah, like 13 years ago.”

Behind the Scenes of the Split and the Reason

Banderas married Andrew Sansone, a financial advisor and media entrepreneur, in 2009. The pair shared three children, Addison, Melissa, and Avery, and for years, appeared to have a picture-perfect family life.

But by late 2022, things had clearly changed. Banderas referred to Sansone as her “soon-to-be ex” in a December tweet, and his appearances on her Instagram all but vanished.

In December 2022, her husband was arrested for allegedly threatening her with a steak knife—but the court later cleared him. The judge questioned her claims, suggesting they may have been used to gain leverage. Despite the turmoil, Banderas now says she’s never been happier.

Source: Instagram/jewelsbidwell

She’s always kept it real, once joking in her bio: “Basically I’m a full-time cleaning lady who goes to my TV job to relax.”

The divorce, she’s made clear, wasn’t some devastating heartbreak, just a long-overdue move.

After her on-air announcement went viral, a friend texted her: “Not sure what I got you for a wedding gift, but I’d like it back now.” Banderas tweeted the exchange with a laugh: “I love my friends lol.”

So Where Is She Now?

As of May 2025, Banderas remains single, and totally unbothered. She hasn’t been publicly linked to anyone new and has instead focused on her career and her kids. She’s still a familiar face on Fox News and continues to use her social media for both sharp takes and relatable mom humor.

She even acknowledged her glow-up with trademark wit, responding to one fan’s compliment with:

“Thank you for noticing! It’s called, divorce.”

A New Chapter — In More Ways Than One

In addition to her role at Fox News, Banderas had already begun expanding into publishing before her divorce. In 2022, she authored Fiona’s Fantastical Fort, a children’s book that teaches perseverance through difficult times, a message that would take on new meaning as she entered a major new chapter in her own life.

She followed that up with a second book in 2024, A Monumental Mistake, which explores the importance of respecting history and authority, part of the Freedom Island series from BRAVE Books.

Both books reflect Banderas’ evolving voice, one that doesn’t just report the news but inspires the next generation with strength, resilience, and a dose of moral clarity.

It’s another sign that Banderas isn’t just surviving, she’s thriving. And whether it’s on air, online, or in the pages of a book, she continues to bring the same confidence, candor, and unapologetic energy fans love her for.

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