Tucker Carlson, the former host of Fox News, has shared a short clip suggesting that he was fired from the network as a secret condition of their $787.5 million defamation settlement with Dominion Voting Systems over Donald Trump’s false election claims. The clip, featuring Chadwick Moore, a regular guest on Fox News, raised eyebrows and fueled speculation about the circumstances surrounding Carlson’s abrupt departure in late April.
Moore, who is working on a biography about Carlson, claimed to have sources with intimate knowledge of the situation, insisting that his firing was indeed connected to the Dominion settlement, despite denials from both Dominion and Fox.
Rumors and theories about the reasons behind Carlson’s firing have been circulating since the announcement. Some speculated that it was due to an ongoing harassment lawsuit, while others pointed to the Dominion lawsuit itself, suggesting that it might have exposed damaging communications between Carlson and Fox leadership.
In early May, Carlson’s camp began releasing their version of events, starting with a scathing letter accusing Fox of “fraud and breach of contract.” The letter positioned Carlson to argue that the noncompete provision in his contract was no longer valid, potentially allowing him to launch his own competing show or media enterprise.
According to sources familiar with the matter via Mediaite, Carlson was informed by a member of the Fox board that his removal from the air was indeed part of the Dominion settlement. However, both Fox News and Dominion vehemently denied these allegations. Fox News dismissed the claims as “categorically false,” while Dominion labeled them as a “thinly veiled effort to further damage Dominion.” Dominion had previously celebrated the settlement with Fox News, but had not indicated any additional demands or victories resulting from the lawsuit.
The letter also alleges Fox broke promises not to settle with Dominion Voting Systems “in a way which would indicate wrongdoing” on the part of Carlson and not to take any actions in a settlement that would harm Carlson’s reputation.
Carlson was told by a member of the Fox board that he was taken off the air as part of the Dominion settlement, two sources briefed on the conversation told Axios.
Following Carlson’s departure, several behind-the-scenes clips portraying him in a negative light were leaked. Carlson’s legal team accused Fox of being behind the leaks, while Fox requested that Dominion ensure none of their representatives were responsible. Initially, Carlson’s camp pointed fingers at Paul Ryan, a Fox board member and former House Speaker, as the potential leaker. However, they later shifted blame to another board member in a strong statement from Carlson’s lawyer.
Carlson’s endorsement of Moore’s claims appears to be a strategic move in preparation for a legal battle with Fox over his contract, which reportedly includes a non-compete agreement. The contract is set to expire in January 2025, but reports suggest that the network has been attempting to sideline Carlson by offering him a substantial sum of $20 million per year not to work.
Moore also provided some insight into the monologue that Carlson had prepared for his final show, which was never aired as he was fired that same morning. The monologue reportedly delved into investigations surrounding the events of January 6th, particularly focusing on Ray Epps, a former Trump supporter who allegedly incited violence at the Capitol that day and is rumored to be an FBI informant.
“I have spent the last year researching and writing this book, and during that time, I’ve gotten to know Tucker, his family, his friends and his staff very well. In fact, I’ve gotten to know, Tucker, the person, not the caricature that his enemies try to portray,” Moore begins, adding:
I was working closely with Tucker when he was taken off the air by Fox. And as some of you know, I was also a regular on his show. And I happened to be a guest on the final episode of the show, which was on April 21st. I’ve also seen the monologue that Tucker planned to deliver on Monday, April 24th, before his show was abruptly taken off the air. That monologue dealt with, among other things, investigations around January 6th, and particularly Ray Epps, the only person captured on video inciting people to violence at the Capitol that day, and allegedly an FBI informant who still has not been arrested or charged.
Moore concluded his statement by emphasizing the potential implications of Carlson’s firing, suggesting that a small group of individuals with a controlling interest in Dominion had managed to silence one of the most influential conservative voices in the country. He expressed confidence in Carlson’s determination not to be silenced and invited those interested in learning more about Carlson’s history, passions, and motivations to explore his upcoming biography.
Ironically, a good part of the monologue also dealt with the people and forces that are trying to silence him, like AOC and others in government,” Moore continued, concluding:
It is now been reported that his firing was a condition demanded by Dominion as part of the settlement with Fox. Although Dominion has denied this, my sources have intimate knowledge of the situation and they have assured me even before this news leaked that that is in fact the truth.
If that is true, it would mean that a small group of people who have a controlling interest in Dominion have managed to silence what is arguably the most important and influential conservative voice in the country, possibly until after the next presidential election. Knowing Tucker as I do, I’m confident that he will not be silenced. As I’m sure all of you are as well. If you’re interested in knowing more, if you want to know about who Tucker is, about his history, his passions, and what motivates him.
