Tucker Carlson, Fox News Channel’s biggest prime time star, has left the cable news giant.
Fox News announced the stunning departure of its top-rated host Monday with no explanation, but people familiar with the situation who were not authorized to comment publicly said the decision to fire Carlson came straight from Fox Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch with input from board members and other Fox Corp. executives, The Los Angeles Times reported.
Carlson’s last show was Friday.
“Fox News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways,” the network said in a statement. “We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor.”
Murdoch elevated Carlson from contributor to daily host status in 2016. Carlson moved into prime time in 2017 after the ouster of Bill O’Reilly.
Carlson’s exit is related to the discrimination lawsuit filed by Abby Grossberg, the producer fired by the network last month, the sources said. Carlson’s senior executive producer Justin Wells has also been terminated, according to insiders.
Grossberg was moved off of “Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo” and onto “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” where she alleged she was bullied and subjected to antisemitic comments, according to a lawsuit in New York.
In deposition testimony, the former Fox News producer also said she was coerced by company lawyers to give misleading answers in the Dominion defamation case against the network. Fox News denied the claim and said she was terminated for disclosing privileged company information.
In a statement, attorneys for Grossberg suggested her suit was a key factor in Carlson’s exit.
“Tucker Carlson’s departure from Fox News is, in part, an admission of the systemic lying, bullying, and conspiracy-mongering claimed by our client, former top producer, Abby Grossberg,” said Tanvir Rahman, one of Grossberg’s attorneys. “Mr. Carlson and his subordinates remain individual defendants in the [Southern District of New York] case and we look forward to taking their depositions under oath in the very near term,”
Murdoch also was said to be concerned about Carlson’s coverage of the Jan. 6 protest at the U.S. Capitol. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy sparked a backlash among Democrats when he granted exclusive access to thousands of hours of surveillance footage from the Jan. 6 protest to Carlson.
Epps was interviewed Sunday on “60 Minutes” and said he has been subjected to death threats as a result of Carlson’s statements about him. The FBI told “60 Minutes” that Epps has never worked for the agency.
Carlson’s ouster was not part of the $787.5-million settlement Fox News agreed to pay to Dominion Voting Systems last week, according to a representative for Dominion.
Carlson was by far the most popular individual host on Fox News, averaging more than 3 million viewers a night.
Starting Monday, Carlson’s 8 p.m. Eastern time slot will be filled by rotating Fox News personalities until a new host is named, the company said.
The chatter inside Fox News is that 7 p.m. Eastern host Jesse Watters could slide into Carlson’s hours, while guest hosts take over Watters’ hour.
you know what, i just cant get over it….i have been with fox news since it started…i remember all the old gang…then over time some went and some came in….but i noticed several that were let go…based on trumped up reasons…fake reasons…remember back in time…hahah ..clinton…that is when we really got going with talking heads….that is when RUSH LIMBAUGH …was doing his thing on RADIO….as of late i watch the five and greg…..and waters, and then the rest wheni can….husband can hardly stand hearing the left wing stuff on the shows…gerondo revolver really gets him upset…however what is worse is how much the so called change is bringing our country down….they talk about CHANGE….like its a good thing….and what people want….so they give it to em….but its not in a good direction….im wondering why the left throws its power at fox news.so frequently…..oh wait…..its because fox is telling the truth and they cant stand that…..
Shame on Murdoch and Fox News. I never thought I would be one that would stop watching Fox News. But I’m there. Tucker is extremely smart and by far had the best show on cable TV. Will never watch Fox News again. Why did you have to cave to the far left??!!