On October 19, 1953, near the end of his morning radio show — deliberately waiting until "after" the television portion had ended — after lavishing praise on LaRosa in introducing the singer's performance of "Manhattan", Godfrey thanked him and then announced that this was LaRosa's "swan song" with the show, adding, "He goes now, out on his own — as his own star — soon to be seen on his own programs, and I know you'll wish him godspeed as much as I do". Godfrey then signed off for the day saying, "This is the CBS Radio Network". LaRosa, who did not know what the phrase "swan song" meant, was incredulous when told he had just been fired, since he had not been informed beforehand of his termination and contract renegotiations had yet to happen. In perhaps a further illumination of the ego that Godfrey had previously kept hidden, radio historian Gerald Nachman, in "Raised on Radio", claims that what truly angered Godfrey about his now-former protege was that LaRosa's fan mail had come to outnumber Godfrey's. It is probable that a combination of these factors led to Godfrey's decision to discharge LaRosa. Godfrey very likely did not expect the public backlash that followed, a result of the incident running directly counter to Godfrey's solicitous, paternal image.