Why Did Fox Axe Tucker Carlson? These Are The Most Likely Reasons

Fox Corporation CEO Lachlan Murdoch and his father, Rupert Murdoch, had become increasingly irritated over Carlson’s conduct on and off the air in recent years, two people with knowledge of Fox’s decision told the New York Times.

An anonymous news network executive told CNN they believe Carlsons’ dismissal is about “managing risk versus reward,” suggesting Carlson was removed to separate the network from his controversies and possibly more lawsuits.

Lachlan was troubled by the release of Carlson’s 2021 documentary Patriot Purge, which promotes conspiracy theories about the January 6 riot on the Capitol, which included the theory the insurrection was actually caused by a “false flag” operation by the FBI.

Included in that conspiracy was Ray Epps, a Trump supporter who participated in the January 6 riot, who told 60 Minutes Carlson pushed a conspiracy theory suggesting he worked for the FBI and helped incite the Capitol protests, which has led to death threats that drove him into hiding, suggesting he could sue the network over it.

Carlson accused Epps of lying to investigators and suggested Epps was a government agent, while Epps—who said Carlson was “obsessed” with him—has demanded Fox News retract Carlson’s statements about him, suggesting they were “false and defamatory,” though Carlson never responded while on-air.

Prior to settling a defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems last week, Fox was concerned about the release of more messages unearthed by Dominion lawyers and sent by Carlson—who was set to testify—using vulgar statements about others, according to Puck.

But he also showed contempt for Fox News executives—“those f***ers are destroying our credibility,” Carlson wrote after the 2020 election—which many suggest might have particularly rankled top Fox brass.

Another lawsuit, by former Carlson producer Abby Grossberg, accused the network and Carlson of sexism and harassment, while Grossberg’s attorney said in a statement Carlson’s departure is “an admission” of her claims—which Fox has dismissed as “unmeritorious.”