Tucker Carlson, the most-watched anchor on Fox News, is parting ways with the network, as announced by Fox News Media on Monday. Carlson’s final broadcast of “Tucker Carlson Tonight” was last Friday. A rotating cast of personalities will fill the 8 p.m. ET until Fox selects a new permanent host. The host reportedly learned about his firing only 10 minutes before the announcement.
According to reports, Rupert Murdoch, the 92-year-old owner of Fox News, made this decision. Carlson, who joined Fox News as a contributor in 2009, hosted his own show since November 2016 and moved to the 8 p.m. slot in April 2017. The news personality’s departure has shocked the political community and the world of broadcast television.
Why did Fox News cut ties with host Tucker Carlson?
Tucker Carlson was fired less than a week after Fox News settled a defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million. Dominion had accused the network of knowingly airing false claims that the company had conspired to rig the 2020 presidential election against Donald Trump.
The full statement on Tucker Carlson's departure from Fox News. pic.twitter.com/OBaKTVX5iI
— Joe St. George (@JoeStGeorge) April 24, 2023
The lawsuit included 20 broadcasts that were considered defamatory, including one featuring MyPillow founder Mike Lindell on Carlson’s show. Although Tucker Carlson did not directly promote those conspiracy theories, his private messages were revealed during the lawsuit and caused embarrassment for Fox News and increased the company’s legal risk.
Tucker Carlson’s promotion of the theory that the January 6 attack on Congress was instigated by the government also concerned Rupert Murdoch. A recent CBS 60 Minutes segment on Ray Epps, whom Carlson falsely accused of being an FBI plant at the Capitol, further raised concerns.
Reports of workplace misogyny against Tucker Carlson
Tucker Carlson’s departure from Fox News was influenced by various factors, including his show’s staff culture, according to reports. Messages from a lawsuit revealed that Tucker Carlson used a derogatory term to refer to a female attorney linked to Donald Trump.
Once again it's the bravery of a woman –Abby Grossberg — who really brought Tucker Carlson down — revealing the misogynistic environment where women were referred to as c**** & much more. If it was b/c of Dominion others would also be taking the fall. #TuckerCarlsonFired
— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) April 24, 2023
Additionally, a former booker for his program sued the network for discrimination. She alleged that she endured sexist treatment while working for Carlson. The booker, Abby Grossberg, filed a lawsuit claiming sexism and a hostile work environment.
Social media reactions to the Fox News host’s departure
Tucker Carlson’s departure from Fox News has generated numerous reactions from political commentators on social media. This is unsurprising given his influence in the broadcast television industry.
Donald Trump on Tucker Carlson: pic.twitter.com/AjAHNYjZxy
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) April 25, 2023
“Deplatforming works and is important”
AOC celebrates Fox News terminating Tucker Carlson pic.twitter.com/1KoJrTDqNR
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) April 25, 2023
This dummy couldn't carry Tucker Carlson's jock. https://t.co/PuU6397UvP
— Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) April 25, 2023
Fox fires @TuckerCarlson five days after he crosses the red line by acknowledging that the TV networks pushed a deadly and ineffective vaccine to please their Pharma advertisers. Carlson’s breathtakingly courageous April 19 monologue broke TV’s two biggest rules: Tucker told the…
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) April 24, 2023
Don Lemon got fired because he was the dumbest man on TV and full of hate. No one cared about Don Lemon
Tucker Carlson got fired because he spoke the Truth and refused to let Fox News control him.
Everyone loved TuckerI stand with Tucker! He’s a true Patriot.
Raise your…
— Terrence K. Williams (@w_terrence) April 25, 2023
Tucker Carlson, one of Fox News' most popular anchors, was worth more than $690 million to the parent company, at least according to stock trading.
Fox News shares plunged more than 5% after host Tucker Carlson's departure from the network.
Shares of Fox Corp. fell 5.4% on… pic.twitter.com/0KdLYvH12q
— S p r i n t e r (@SprinterFamily) April 25, 2023
According to Nielsen ratings, Tucker Carlson Tonight is the most-watched prime-time cable TV show, excluding sports, with a nightly viewership that sometimes exceeds 3.7 million. Fox Corp’s Class A shares declined by 5.4% on Monday after the network announced Carlson’s immediate exit.
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