Seems like Tucker Carlson made it on the GoJo Kill List as well
Fox News’s notorious far-right news host, Tucker Carlson, has been given the axe by Rupert Murdoch, in surprising Succession fashion. Feels like everything is a Succession reference as of late.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Carlson learned about his termination just 10 minutes before it was publicly announced. The decision to fire Carlson was made by Rupert Murdoch, the 92-year-old owner of Fox, with the assistance of senior officials at the company. Specifically, Fox Corp CEO Lachlan Murdoch and Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott were responsible for the decision to terminate Carlson, which was executed on Friday evening, as reported by The Washington Post.
The decision to terminate Carlson was linked to a lawsuit filed by Abby Grossberg, a former senior booking producer on Carlson's show, who accused the network of fostering a sexist and hostile work environment, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Enjoying so much recalling Matt Gaetz telling Tucker Carlson: "I'm not the only person on screen right now who has been [falsely] accused of a terrible sex act." pic.twitter.com/Q6sSbyFimH
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) April 25, 2023
An infamous figure in the American right-wing media landscape, Carlson has been the centre of numerous controversies in recent years:
Murdoch was reportedly concerned with Carlson's support for the notion that the January 6 attack on the Capitol was instigated by the government. Recently, CBS 60 Minutes broadcast, a segment on Ray Epps, whom Carlson had falsely accused of being an FBI plant at the Capitol, further exacerbating concerns.
Carlson's termination comes just days after Fox settled a $787.5m defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems. Legal documents in the case exposed numerous vulgar text messages from Carlson, in which he expressed disdain for Donald Trump and referred to Sidney Powell, a lawyer for the former President spreading false election information, as a liar.
Donald Trump on Tucker Carlson: pic.twitter.com/AjAHNYjZxy
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) April 25, 2023
Furthermore, Carlson downplayed the severity of the January 6 attack, selectively airing edited footage to frame the insurrection as peaceful. Carlson has even gone as far as promoting the use of tanning therapy on testicles to combat a supposed "crisis of manliness."
One of Carlson's biggest screw-ups came in 2018 when he claimed that immigrants were making America "dirtier." This statement was met with widespread criticism and accusations of racism, with Carlson doubling down on his remarks, stating that he was “simply pointing out the facts”. However, his comments were not based on any empirical evidence and were rooted in the very same xenophobic rhetoric he was best known for.
In 2020, Carlson faced backlash for downplaying the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. He referred to it as a "hoax" and accused the media of exaggerating the dangers of the virus. Carlson's comments were not only inaccurate but also dangerous, as they could have potentially influenced individuals to ignore important safety measures such as wearing masks and social distancing.
Carlson's history of promoting conspiracy theories and spreading misinformation is also well-documented. He has been known to give a platform to individuals with extremist views and has been accused of promoting white nationalist ideologies.
So many lies, so little time. In memoriam of Tucker Carlson & Fox News, 2009-2023.pic.twitter.com/7CCXFCUE1V
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) April 25, 2023
He famously expressed support for the "great replacement theory," which posits that Democrats and Jews seek to replace white people with non-white voters. In the wake of George Floyd's murder by police officers in 2020, he belittled Black Lives Matter protesters, characterizing them as "criminal mobs."
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of Carlson's journalism is his use of inflammatory language and his willingness to target individuals for harassment. Carlson has been known to launch personal attacks on individuals he disagrees with, often resorting to bullying and name-calling. This behavior is not only unprofessional but also undermines the credibility of journalism as a whole.
happy tucker carlson getting fired day to britney spears pic.twitter.com/zIoipArc82
— matt (@mattxiv) April 24, 2023
In 2019, Carlson faced backlash for his comments regarding women, including claiming that women who earn more than men are contributing to "social collapse" and that women in general are "extremely primitive" and "like dogs."
Tucker Carlson's history of questionable statements and actions made him one of the most reprehensible journalists in the United States. His willingness to promote conspiracy theories and misinformation, his use of inflammatory language, and his targeting of individuals for harassment were not only unprofessional but also dangerous.
His sick interpretation of journalism serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible and ethical reporting in our society. The irony of him getting sacked alongside a whole bunch of characters at Succession’s Waystar Royco, especially the producer of the fictitious far-right ATN News, is most definitely not lost on us.