Fox News announced on Friday that they had fired their primetime host, Tucker Carlson, amid mounting controversies surrounding his show. The decision was met with mixed reactions, with some viewers applauding the move while others slammed the network for caving to pressure from liberals and the mainstream media.
Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch
Many are speculating that the decision to fire Carlson was made by Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, the father-and-son team who owns Fox News. The Murdochs have been under pressure in recent months to clean up the network's image, which has been tarnished by a string of scandals and controversies.
Some insiders say the decision was long overdue, as Carlson has repeatedly courted controversy with his inflammatory comments on various topics, from immigration and race to COVID-19 and the 2020 presidential election.
Rumors have it that even Rupert Murdoch, the Fox Corps Chairman, was tired of his borderline racism and misogyny. Though Rupert’s son Lachlan and Suzanne Scott reportedly decided it was time for him to go.
You’ll probably remember it was Rupert Murdoch himself that promoted Carlson from “contributor” to host in 2016, after the “alleged” sexual harasser Bill O’Reilly was dismissed.
For now, Tucker Carlson, the Fox News “ally of white nationalists,” is gone from TV “news. He can no longer rant about immigrants, blacks, Muslims, feminists, or any other about his demise. He has only himself to blame for the atmosphere of hatred and racism he espoused and uttered daily on Fox. But, of course, he won’t blame himself; that’s not in his nature.
The Dominion Lawsuit settlement of $787 Million
One of the main factors that may have led to Carlson's dismissal was the recent settlement of a lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems. The company had sued Fox News, along with several of its anchors, including Carlson, for spreading baseless conspiracy theories about their role in the 2020 election.
The settlement, which reportedly cost Fox News millions of dollars, was a major blow to the network's credibility. Many viewers felt that the network had gone too far in promoting unfounded claims of voter fraud and election rigging and that Carlson had been a key part of that effort.
“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.”— Tanvir Rahman, Grossberg’s attorney.
Though we’ll likely never know the full truth of that situation, as Fox has agreed to settle with Dominion for $787 million. People rarely settle lawsuits when they know they are right.
New details in Tucker Carlson's exit from Fox News l GMA
The 6 January Insurrection Hearings
Another factor contributing to Carlson's firing was his coverage of the 6 January insurrection at the US Capitol. Carlson has been criticized for downplaying the attack's seriousness and suggesting that it was carried out by left-wing agitators rather than former President Donald Trump supporters.
Carlson even went so far as to claim it was mastermind by an FBI plant. He gave no credible evidence, nor did he provide a source for this claim.
These claims have been widely debunked. Many viewers felt Carlson was spreading dangerous misinformation that could incite further violence. Some have even called for him to be held accountable for his role in fomenting division and extremism in the US.
Mixed Reactions
The news of Carlson's firing has sparked a range of reactions from viewers, with some applauding the move and others condemning it. Many on the left see it as a long-overdue step towards holding Fox News accountable for its role in promoting misinformation and divisiveness.
Others, however, see it as an example of “cancel culture” gone too far. They argue that Carlson was simply expressing his opinions and that his dismissal represents a dangerous attack on free speech and the right to dissent.
“Cancel culture is a movement to remove celebrity status or esteem from a person, place, or thing based on offensive behavior or transgression.”—Pew Research Center.
What's next for Fox News?
It remains to be seen what the future holds for Fox News after Carlson's firing. The network has long been a bastion of conservatism and right-wing ideology, but its reputation has been seriously damaged in recent years by a string of scandals and controversies.
Many viewers are calling on the network to make major changes, including greater accountability for hosts like Carlson and a renewed focus on objective reporting. Whether Fox News will listen to these calls or continue down its current path of promoting division and conspiracy theories remains to be seen.
Many wonder if another toxic host will be hired to replace Carlson, as they did with O’Reilly. Like cutting off one head of a hydra.
8. "Fox News Is Spreading Dangerous Misinformation About COVID-19. It's Time to Hold Them Accountable," Salon, November 23, 2022. https://www.foxnews.com/video/6326273574112
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About the author
Stephen Dalton is a native of Old Town, ME, and a retired US Army First Sergeant with a degree in journalism from the University of Maryland. He is a Certified US English Chicago Manual of Style Editor. Top Writer in Travel, Food, Fiction, Transportation, VR, NFL, Design, Creativity, Short Story, and a NewsBreak Community Voice Pro.
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