An undercover journalist recently caught a Fox News producer on camera saying Tucker Carlson was fired from the network as part of its settlement with Dominion Voting Systems, which pursued a $1.6 billion defamation case against Fox.
“[It cost] $744 million dollars to settle that Dominion lawsuit,” Fox News at Night producer Sean Langille said in a video posted on Twitter by journalist James O’Keefe. “They say it wasn’t part of it, but we’re learning that Tucker getting fired was part of that.”
“Yeah, he was ousted. Well, he brought up things that cost the company a lot of money. That, that was part of it, he was going to go after this whole thing about January 6 was, it was an inside job. He went after this guy Ray Epps. He said he was an FBI agent on the inside and basically encouraged it. He was going to go on the air and refute what that guy said on ’60 Minutes.’ And the Murdoch’s were not too happy about it.”
In Fox News’ initial announcement on Carlson’s departure, the network said it and Carlson “agreed to part ways.”
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“FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways. We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor,” the statement read in part. “Mr. Carlson’s last program was Friday April 21st. Fox News Tonight will air live at 8 PM/ET starting this evening as an interim show helmed by rotating FOX News personalities until a new host is named.”
It remains unclear why the popular host, whose show “Tucker Carlson Tonight” became the highest-rated program in cable news history, left the network. Several theories have emerged, including one suggesting Carlson was fired over his religious views.
According to Vanity Fair, a source said Fox Corp. chair Rupert Murdoch was behind Carlson’s removal, a move that was allegedly sparked by Carlson’s speech at the Heritage Foundation’s 50th Anniversary gala on Friday.
During the speech, Carlson said politics in America have come down to “good” and “evil” and encouraged people to pray.
“We should say that and stop engaging in these totally fraudulent debates…I’ve tried. That doesn’t work,” Carlson said. “I have concluded it might be worth taking just 10 minutes out of your busy schedule to say a prayer for the future, and I hope you will.”
Murdoch reportedly found Carlson’s speech extreme due to its religious overtones.
