Tucker Carlson, a right-wing primetime host, has left Fox News with immediate effect, according to a statement released by the cable network. The announcement came a few days after the parent company of Fox News settled the defamation lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million. The settlement agreement did not require the network’s hosts to address the lawsuit or make any apologies. Carlson’s last program aired on Friday, and there will be no farewell ceremony for him.
Dominion Lawsuit Fallout
Fox News Media and Tucker Carlson “have agreed to part ways,” according to Fox’s statement on Monday. The company thanked him for his service to the network as a host and a contributor. The company did not comment beyond the announcement, leaving it unclear whether Carlson’s departure had anything to do with the Dominion defamation case. Carlson was among the hosts and executives questioned as part of the Dominion lawsuit, and some of his emails and texts were included in the evidence.
Other Hosts Deposed
Maria Bartiromo, Jeanine Pirro, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, and former host Lou Dobbs were among the other hosts questioned and part of the evidence released as part of the Dominion lawsuit. Dominion sued Fox and its networks, alleging that the networks falsely blamed Dominion for the 2020 loss of former President Donald Trump to President Joe Biden by airing unsubstantiated claims about the company’s machines rigging the election. The lawsuit was unlikely to have an impact on Fox’s business, and its stock remained steady in recent months despite evidence showing the hosts and executives’ skepticism about the election fraud claims aired on the network.
Smartmatic Lawsuit
Shortly after Smartmatic, another voting tech company, sued Fox for defamation in 2021, Lou Dobbs’ weekday program on Fox Business was canceled. Dobbs is named as a defendant in the ongoing Smartmatic lawsuit, which is not scheduled to go to trial until 2025. Fox stated that the show’s cancellation was in progress before the lawsuit.
Uncertain Future
It is unclear what effect the Dominion lawsuit will have on Fox’s programming and hosts. While the network’s business was unlikely to be affected, the lawsuit’s toll on its programming and hosts is uncertain.
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