Fox News said on Monday it was parting ways with its most popular primetime host, Tucker Carlson, who has also been a repeated source of controversy and headaches for the network for his views on everything from race relations to LGBTQ rights.
The announcement came less than a week after the network agreed to pay a $787.5 million defamation lawsuit, with Mr. Carlson’s show, one of Fox’s highest-rated shows, being criticized for its role in spreading misinformation after the 2020 election. attention to its effect.
In announcing the news, Fox issued a brief statement of thanks. “Fox News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways. We thank him for his service to the network as host and prior to that as a contributor,” it said.
Fox said his last show was on Friday.
Mr. Carlson also faces a lawsuit from former Fox News producer Abby Grosberg, who claims he presided over a misogynistic and discriminatory workplace culture. Ms. Grossberg said in the lawsuit filed in March that on her first day working for Mr. Carlson, she found the workspace decorated with a large photo of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a bathing suit.
Ms. Grossberg, who was fired after filing the lawsuit, also alleges that after she was coerced by Fox’s lawyers into giving misleading testimony and defending Mr. Carlson’s offensive text in the Dominion trial, his producers emailed Send an email to other employees recognizing “Abby Day” and suggest ordering a staff lunch to celebrate.
Fox disputed Ms Grosberg’s claims. “We will continue to vigorously defend Fox against Ms. Grossberg’s baseless legal action, which is riddled with false allegations against Fox and our employees,” a spokeswoman said in a recent statement.
Mr. Carlson, 53, has been hosting his primetime show “The Tonight Show with Tucker Carlson” since 2016. In 2021, he signed a new deal with Fox News to expand into podcasting and produce a series called “Tucker Carlson Originals” for the streaming service Fox Nation.
This is a developing story. Check for updates.
