Tucker Carlson has left Fox News, effective immediately, in a shocking and sudden shake-up of the cable news landscape.
The conservative political pundit has been one of Fox News’ most popular yet divisive figures: Tucker Carlson Tonight, his primetime show, was one of the highest-rated cable news programmes.
The reasons for his leaving are unknown at this time. Fox News issued the following statement earlier today: FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have reached an agreement to part ways. They appreciate his contributions to the network as a host and, previous to that, as a contributor.
Carlson’s retirement will be effective quickly, according to the statement, since his final program aired on Friday. In the meantime, Fox News Tonight will fill his 8 p.m. ET time slot.
The announcement comes only days after Fox News agreed to pay a $787.5 million settlement in a slander case filed by Dominion Voting Systems. According to the complaint, Fox News presenters, including Carlson, falsely claimed in the 2020 presidential election that the company’s voting equipment was rigged against former President Donald Trump. It’s unclear if Carlson’s departure is connected to the settlement.
Tucker Carlson has been a powerful voice in conservative politics in recent years, but his extreme views on race, LGBTQ rights, and the Ukraine conflict have made him a deeply divisive figure. Many sponsors have boycotted his program because he has been accused of mainstreaming conspiracy theories and white supremacist ideologies.
Despite the issues, Carlson has regularly garnered excellent ratings for Fox News, and the network has been loyal to him over the years, so it’s unclear why Carlson and Fox News have chosen to split ways so suddenly.
