Tucker Carlson, the prime-time star and controversial host at Fox News, has abruptly left the network. In a brief, four-sentence statement on Monday, Fox News announced that they and Carlson had agreed to part ways. His final appearance as the host of his show was on Friday, April 21.
This unexpected departure comes less than a week after Fox settled an enormous defamation lawsuit for over $787 million with Dominion Voting Systems. The company had sued over segments featuring false claims of election fraud that supposedly robbed then-President Donald Trump of victory in 2020. Carlson was a central figure in the lawsuit but is also facing legal action from his former senior booking producer, Abby Grossberg, who filed two separate suits.
Grossberg has accused Carlson and Fox of sexism and harassment, alleging a toxic workplace environment rife with misogyny. Among other claims, her lawsuit mentions mocked-up images of then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a revealing bathing suit and two separate polls asking staffers which of two female candidates for Michigan governor they would prefer to have sex with.
With Carlson’s departure, Fox News has also fired the senior executive producer of his show, Justin Wells, who is named as a defendant in Grossberg’s lawsuit. The other lawsuit, filed in Delaware, alleges that Fox’s legal team pressured Grossberg to lie in her sworn statements for the defamation case about what she witnessed at the network.
Despite a long history of controversy, including racist, sexist, and homophobic commentaries from a top writer and a staffer’s connection to a white nationalist site, Carlson had remained one of the network’s most prominent personalities. He had successfully replaced former star host Bill O’Reilly after he left due to sexual harassment allegations and had a significant presence on Fox Nation, the network’s streaming site.
Carlson’s show had been condemned by civil rights leaders for promoting racist, antisemitic, and anti-immigrant ideologies. Furthermore, his work on Fox Nation had been heavily criticized for attempting to exonerate those involved in the January 6, 2021, siege of the U.S. Capitol. His controversial positions contributed to the departure of several prominent Fox figures, including Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace and conservative commentators Steve Hayes and Jonah Goldberg.
Although Fox News has yet to announce a permanent replacement, a rotating cast of personalities will fill in during the prime-time slot for now. As the dust settles on Carlson’s dramatic exit, the network will face the challenge of regaining its footing and addressing the controversies that have plagued it in recent times.
Tucker Carlson’s sudden departure from Fox News marks a turning point for the network, which has long weathered scandal and controversy. With lawsuits and allegations swirling, his exit raises questions about the future of the network and the impact of its controversial content on viewers. As the search for a permanent replacement begins, Fox News will need to navigate a new path forward and address the issues that have tarnished its reputation.
