Long before he became the towering Fox News personality known for his booming laugh and sharp one-liners, Tyrus lived a childhood marked by violence, instability, and abandonment. The man whose real name is George Murdoch was born in Boston on February 21, 1973, to parents who were barely out of their teens. His mother was just 15, his father 19, and their home was ruled by fear. Violence was a daily reality.
His father was abusive toward his mother, and soon turned that anger on young Murdoch. A particularly hard punch caused permanent swelling in his eye. In one terrifying incident, his father allegedly tried to throw him from a high-rise apartment window. His mother eventually left for good, but escaping that home brought a new kind of pain.
When the family returned to her parents, they said she could come home, but her sons were not welcome because their father was Black. Murdoch and his younger brother were placed in foster care, separated from their mother. As a small child, he became convinced that if he could change his skin color, he might be allowed back home. The brothers eventually reunited with their mother in Los Angeles, where she worked up to 80 hours a week to keep the family afloat.
Stability remained elusive. A stepfather brought more violence, including an attack that knocked out 13-year-old Murdoch’s front teeth. By 16, after a final fight where he fought back, he packed a trash bag and left for good. He drifted for a while, sleeping on couches and even hiding in a school locker room.
He was too proud to ask for help. The one constant in his life was football, which gave him structure, discipline, and a sense of belonging. He learned that everything had to be earned, a lesson that redirected his life. After high school, he attended Antelope Valley College in California, where he dominated as an offensive lineman and earned all-conference honors.
That led to an invitation to the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Initially unimpressed by the smaller Division II program, he changed his mind upon visiting and found the facilities and team culture impressive. He spent two seasons there, anchoring a line where every player averaged over 300 pounds. Beyond the wins, Murdoch credits the coaches he met there, including Claire Boroff, Daryl Morris, and Scott Hoffman, for teaching him accountability and discipline.
They shaped his character, not just his athletic ability. He finished his degree in physical education in 1998, though he couldn’t afford to walk at graduation. Injuries eventually ended his football career. He worked as a substitute teacher by day and bounced at nightclubs by night.
He also did personal security work for rapper Snoop Dogg. One night, while breaking up a fight at a club, he took down two men while joking and keeping the mood light. A professional wrestler in the crowd saw it and spotted potential. By 2006, Murdoch debuted in WWE as Brodus Clay, later becoming Tyrus in Impact Wrestling in 2014.
His path to television began with playful exchanges online with Greg Gutfeld, which led to an invitation to Fox News. By 2016, he was a regular on the show, and from 2018 to 2019, he co-hosted the program “UNPO. ”
That era ended abruptly. In April 2019, Tyrus disappeared from the show with no explanation.
In June, the Daily Beast reported that Britt McHenry, his co-host, had filed a complaint against him. Allegations surfaced that he had sent her unwanted, suggestive text messages between October and December 2018. McHenry claimed the messages grew more explicit over time and included threats to send embarrassing images. McHenry said the workplace turned hostile after she rejected his advances.
She described a volatile and unpredictable environment marked by mood swings and angry outbursts. After a work-related dinner, she alleged he behaved aggressively and sexually toward her. Fox News hired two outside law firms to investigate and said neither found evidence to support her claims. Both remained employed, but they were separated.
McHenry received a new co-host, and Tyrus was given his own series. In October 2019, McHenry filed a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights naming both Tyrus and Fox News. She argued that while Fox publicly claimed zero tolerance for harassment, she was isolated, left out of events, and barred from appearing on main channel programs. She also disputed the fairness of the investigations, saying an investigator made inappropriate comments about her looks and suggested she had led Tyrus on.
In December 2019, McHenry filed a federal lawsuit in Manhattan naming Fox News, several executives, and Murdoch. She described the fallout as devastating to her career and reputation. Murdoch’s attorney denied every allegation and hinted at possible defamation countersuits. The legal battle ended in July 2021 with a settlement.
Terms were not made public. Fox News said it would have won if the case went to trial but chose to settle to avoid further litigation. Murdoch’s attorney noted the claims were dismissed with prejudice, meaning they cannot be refiled, and that Tyrus made no financial payment. McHenry said she was proud for standing up for herself and hoped her courage would help other women.
While that drama unfolded, a quieter story was developing. In January 2024, Tyrus married his longtime partner, Ingrid Rinck Herbert. The couple met in the fall of 2014 in New Jersey, starting with casual coffee dates that grew into a decade-long partnership. Friends and family long assumed they were already married.
They proposed in April 2020 with a green emerald ring, chosen for being unique rather than traditional. In January 2024, they married in a simple, private ceremony. By spring, they had moved to a farm in northern New Jersey, a plan they had been building toward for years. Ingrid brings her own story of transformation.
She worked 25 years as a personal trainer and later founded businesses called Rinck ROUTINE and Sensible Meals. She lost 150 pounds through healthy eating and exercise. Her approach became more focused after her son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and she began preparing portion-controlled meals to help manage his condition. Friends asked for similar help, and the business grew from there.
At home, the family runs what they call the “Tyrus-saurus Zoo. ” The farm is home to fish, turtles, snakes, lizards, chameleons, and more. Tyrus has said the animals improve his mental health. Ingrid, who once admitted she did not like animals or reptiles, has taken charge of the operation, creating schedules, assigning responsibilities, and even learning techniques to encourage breeding.
Their daughter Georgie handles bonding time with the animals, while Ingrid’s son Rhett and his girlfriend Julia manage the heavier and cleaning tasks. In December 2022, Ingrid gave a rare and honest look at how the 2019 lawsuit affected their family. She called that year deeply traumatic and painful. She credited her husband for stepping up as a leader at home, encouraging her to take time away with their daughter to begin healing.
The couple’s story, through all its ups and downs, has remained steady. No rushing, no shortcuts, just patient, consistent building.
