Fox News fired Tucker Carlson today and shocked the world. Except this is the same Fox News that fired Carlson’s predecessor Bill O’Reilly. Hell, Fox even fired its co-founder Roger Ailes. And, by Fox, I’m referring to Rupert Murdoch, the wizard of Trumpism.
O’Reilly and Ailes’ firing offense was creating a hostile work environment – complete with sexual harassment. Carlson was peddling lies and conspiracies to undermine American democracy. So, far from being shocked, everyone should wonder what took Fox so long.
Fox News fires Tucker Carlson
Fox never even thought about firing Carlson. But everything changed last week. That’s when Fox had to pay $787.5 million to settle a defamation lawsuit.
Of course, last night’s episode of 60 Minutes didn’t help. It exposed Carlson as so unhinged that he defamed a former US marine. He branded the marine an FBI plant who incited Trump’s MAGA insurrectionists.
Doing so triggered unrepentant insurrectionists. They began menacing this marine and his wife mercilessly. This resulted in the couple selling their home. They now live on the run in an RV. He, too, is suing Carlson and Fox for false and defamatory statements.
Why did Fox fire Tucker Carlson?
Many similar lawsuits are lying in wait to settle. Still, Fox is not coming to Jesus. It’s coming to terms with this costly fact. And Fox is blaming Carlson for making it strictly liable.
In other words, firing him is all about cutting losses. After all, nobody at Fox personified those mounting losses more than Carlson, its top-rated host. But if I were Sean Hannity, Maria Bartiromo, or Jeanine Pirro, I’d be updating my resume…