Fox News and Tucker Carlson have parted ways, the network shockingly made official on Monday morning in news that shook both the media and political world.
Carlson owned the highest-rated cable news program but was only told about the decision to let him go just minutes before the news went public, according to a person familiar with the situation.
“FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways,” the network said in a statement released by a spokesperson. “We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor.”
The news comes amid Fox Corp. settling with Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million over the network’s election lies being aired. Over his time at Fox News, Carlson became a key figure for the network and worked his way inside the GOP. He won over key party members and secured the first interview with former President Donald Trump following his arraignment in New York.
Producer Abby Grossberg, who is suing Carlson for sexism and harassment, celebrated the host being ousted from the network.
“Tucker Carlson’s departure from Fox News is, in part, an admission of the systemic lying, bullying, and conspiracy-mongering claimed by our client,” said Tanvir Rahman, one of Grossberg’s lawyers, in a statement Monday afternoon. “Mr. Carlson and his subordinates remain individual defendants in the S.D.N.Y. case and we look forward to taking their depositions under oath in the very near term.”
Grossburg alleges the show used mocked-up photographic images that depicted then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “in a bathing suit revealing her cleavage” and the staff was polled on which two female candidates for Michigan governor they would rather have sex with.
Fox also fired the senior executive producer of Carlson’s show, Justin Wells. As of Monday afternoon, Fox was still promoting Carlson and presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s interview.
