Donald Trump has posted on Truth Social that CNN have fired Don Lemon, “Good News: “The dumbest man on television,” Don Lemon, has finally been fired from Fake News CNN. My only question is, WHAT TOOK THEM SO LONG?”
Fox News announced on Monday that it has ended its association with Tucker Carlson, the controversial right-wing extremist who hosted the network’s highly rated 8pm hour. Carlson’s departure came as a shock since Fox had been promoting his show before the announcement. However, it is not clear if the decision was directly linked to the recent $787.5 million settlement Fox News reached with Dominion Voting Systems, a voting technology company that had filed a defamation lawsuit against the network. Carlson was a key figure in the litigation, and his private text messages were revealed as part of the lawsuit. In some of these messages, Carlson expressed hatred towards former President Donald Trump and misogynistic views towards pro-Trump lawyer Sidney Powell.
Besides his role in the Dominion lawsuit, Carlson was also known for promoting conspiracy theories and radical rhetoric. He repeatedly sowed doubt about the legitimacy of the 2020 election, promoted conspiracy theories about Covid-19 vaccines, and elevated white nationalist talking points. The head of the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt, praised Fox News’ decision to sever ties with Carlson, saying that “for far too long, Tucker Carlson has used his primetime show to spew antisemitic, racist, xenophobic, and anti-LGBTQ hate to millions.”
Abby Grossberg, an ex-Fox News producer who has since disavowed the network, also claimed in recent lawsuits that there was rampant sexism and misogyny among Tucker Carlson’s show team. Grossberg said that it became apparent how pervasive the misogyny and drive to embarrass and objectify women was among the male staff at “Tucker Carlson Tonight” after her first day on the job. Fox News is aggressively fighting two lawsuits from Grossberg. In a lawsuit filed last month, Grossberg said Carlson “was very capable of using such disgusting language about women in the workplace.” She cited some of Carlson’s private texts, where he used the phrase “c-nt” to refer to Trump lawyer Sidney Powell.
Carlson’s departure from Fox News comes after the network severed ties with another right-wing bomb thrower, Dan Bongino, who had been a regular fixture on the network’s programming in addition to hosting a weekend show. Despite Carlson’s departure, his impact on Fox News and the broader media landscape remains evident. Carlson was known for amplifying conspiracy theories and promoting a radical agenda, and his departure marks a significant shift in the network’s programming.
