Tyrus Has a Weird Way of Motivating Kat Timpf to Return to Fox News, and You’ll Be Surprised to Know How He Did It
Kat Timpf, the sharp-witted libertarian co-host of Gutfeld! and The Five, made a triumphant return to Fox News on May 14, 2025, joining Greg Gutfeld and Jamie Lissow on the Fox Nation game show What Did I Miss?. Her comeback, just three months after giving birth to her son and undergoing a double mastectomy for stage zero breast cancer, was a testament to her resilience. But behind the scenes, it was Tyrus, the former pro wrestler and Gutfeld! regular, who played a surprising role in motivating her return with an unconventional tactic that left fans buzzing and inspired.
Timpf, 36, faced a whirlwind in February 2025. Hours before delivering her son with husband Cameron Friscia, she learned of her breast cancer diagnosis, a shock she shared on X, assuring fans it was early-stage and treatable. After her surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Timpf took maternity leave, supported by colleagues like Gutfeld, who announced her news on Gutfeld! and called her “our warrior”. Her recovery was grueling, but Timpf’s humor shone through, as seen in her cheeky March Instagram post from the hospital, captioned, “Once I’m back in the gym, it’s OVER FOR U B*****Z”. By April, she was spotted at Coachella, defiantly celebrating life with Friscia.
Tyrus, known as George Murdoch, has been Timpf’s podcast partner on Tyrus and Timpf since 2024, where their odd-couple chemistry—his tough-guy wisdom and her snarky libertarianism—thrives. Their banter, from roasting fans with “brightly colored hair” to debating baby names, has built a loyal following,. When Timpf stepped away from Fox, Tyrus filled in on Gutfeld!, keeping her seat warm alongside substitutes like Kennedy Montgomery. But as weeks passed, Timpf hesitated about returning, juggling motherhood and recovery. That’s when Tyrus hatched his “weird” plan.
On April 20, 2025, during a Tyrus and Timpf recording, Tyrus challenged Timpf to a “motivational wager” off-air. Knowing her love for quirky bets and her competitive streak, he proposed a deal: if she returned to Fox News by May, he’d perform a stand-up comedy routine—something he’d never done—in her honor at the What Did I Miss? taping. If she didn’t, she’d have to wear his signature wrestling gear on air. “Kat, you’re tougher than my old ring opponents,” Tyrus told her, per a source close to the show. “But you gotta get back in the game, and I’m betting my dignity on it.”
The wager was classic Tyrus—playful, absurd, and heartfelt. Timpf, who’d shared pregnancy cravings for protein-packed ice cream on her “Ninja Creami” tutorials, couldn’t resist the challenge. “Tyrus doing comedy? I’m not missing that,” she reportedly laughed. Over the next weeks, Tyrus kept the pressure on, sending her daily texts with mock “set lists” for his routine, including lines like, “Why’d Kat come back? ‘Cause she’s too stubborn to lose to a 300-pound wrestler.” Timpf, inspired by his persistence and her own drive, committed to returning for the May 14 What Did I Miss? episode.
The reveal came during the live taping, where contestants guessed real versus fake Trump-era headlines for a $50,000 prize. Timpf, radiant and sharp, joined Gutfeld and Lissow, her first TV appearance since February. Halfway through, Tyrus took the stage, mic in hand, and delivered a five-minute comedy routine dedicated to Timpf. “Kat’s back, folks, ‘cause I wasn’t gonna let her hide in her Ninja Creami cave forever,” he quipped, mimicking her ice cream obsession. The crowd roared as he recounted their wager, ending with, “Kat, you’re proof you can beat cancer, be a mom, and still outsmart Gutfeld.” Timpf, laughing through tears, hugged him, saying, “Tyrus, you’re insane, but I’m here because of you.”
X erupted with #TyrusMotivates trending. “Tyrus doing stand-up to get Kat Timpf back on Fox? Legend!” one user posted. Another wrote, “Kat’s comeback and Tyrus’s comedy bit are why I love Gutfeld!—pure heart.” Fans shared clips of Tyrus’s routine, which went viral with millions of views, praising his loyalty. “Tyrus bet his pride to lift Kat up—that’s friendship,” a commenter noted. Some speculated he’d planned it since Timpf’s diagnosis, citing their podcast chemistry.
Timpf’s return was more than a TV moment—it was a triumph over adversity. Her cancer battle, detailed in posts thanking fans for support, and motherhood had tested her, but Tyrus’s quirky motivation tapped into her resilience. On The Five the next day, Gutfeld teased, “Tyrus, you’re a better comedian than me now.” Timpf added, “He’s crazy, but he reminded me I belong here.” Her son, nicknamed “Lila Bean” by fans, became a symbol of her strength, with Timpf sharing a photo of his tiny hand on Instagram, captioned, “Back for you, kid.”
The buzz inspired viewers, with #TyrusMotivates sparking stories of friends pushing each other through challenges. “Tyrus’s bet for Kat reminds me to cheer on my people,” one X user wrote. Schools and workplaces launched “motivational wager” challenges, encouraging quirky support for colleagues. Timpf, who’d faced trolls questioning her surgery, leaned into the positivity, telling The US Sun, “Tyrus’s weird idea got me back to what I love—laughing and fighting”.
For Tyrus, a former wrestler turned Fox News star, the stunt was personal. “Kat’s family,” he said on their podcast, echoing their Tyrus and Timpf talks about loyalty. His comedy debut, though unconventional, showed his heart, cementing his role as Timpf’s biggest cheerleader. As Timpf resumes her Gutfeld! duties, her return, sparked by Tyrus’s wild wager, proves that sometimes, the weirdest motivations create the most inspiring comebacks, leaving America laughing, cheering, and believing in second chances.