He said he was grateful for the show and for his team's examination of 'the media, truth and the stories that shape our world.'

Stelter added: 'It was a rare privilege to lead a weekly show focused on the press at a time when it has never been more consequential.'

He added that he would say more on the final episode of the show on Sunday. 

Licht is currently working to revive the scandal-hit network after several high profile incidents, and informed Stelter of the news on Wednesday. 

Stelter was reportedly summoned to Licht's office on Wednesday, and left looking 'ashen and refused to talk about the conversation', according to Puck News. 

In a statement on Twitter, he said: 'I picked a bad day to violate the ABC rule — Always Be Charging. I took the kiddos out sightseeing in midtown Manhattan and my phone's at 2%.'

CNN confirmed in a statement to DailyMail.com that Stelter's last show will be on Sunday. 

'As a result, Brian Stelter will leave the company. We appreciate his contributions and wish him well as he embarks on new endeavors,' a spokesperson said. 

Critics were calling for Stelter to be sacked earlier this year after he failed to report the 'open secret' affair between former top boss Jeff Zucker and staffer Allison Gollust.

Zucker stepped down as CNN president in February for failing to disclose his relationship with Gollust when he was being interviewed as part of the investigation into Chris Cuomo.

He and Gollust claim the romance started during COVID, but media sources tell DailyMail.com it long predates the pandemic and was an open-secret in the CNN offices.

It comes just days after Toobin CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin announced that he is leaving the network after 20 years.Gollust and Zucker lived in the same apartment building with their respective families, have worked together at NBC and then CNN for more than 20 years, and had what some called an 'uncomfortably cozy' rapport.