Tucker Carlson was fired from Fox News in April 2023 due to multiple escalating issues. Key reasons include the discovery of his extreme off-air views, which aligned with controversial and racially charged rhetoric he promoted on air, such as conspiracy theories like the "great replacement theory." Private messages revealed during a defamation lawsuit showed he genuinely held these beliefs, which alarmed Fox News executives. Additionally, a troubling text from Carlson containing racially insensitive remarks emerged before the Dominion Voting Systems defamation trial, prompting fears of irreparable harm to the network's reputation. Fox's leadership, including Rupert Murdoch, his son Lachlan, and Fox CEO Suzanne Scott, concluded that Carlson had become more of a liability than an asset, despite his significant viewership and influence. The decision was influenced as well by lawsuits against Fox, including a discrimination lawsuit from a former producer, Abby Grossberg, who alleged bullying and antisemitic comments in Carlson's show environment. The firing was also a strategic move by Fox to protect the network's future and distance itself from the controversies Carlson had incited. Carlson's departure came as a surprise to him, occurring while he was renegotiating his contract, and he later claimed he was fired for saying things Fox did not like. His ouster was not officially linked to the Dominion settlement, but was attributed to his damaging behavior and escalating controversies that made him a risk for the network.
