(Mark Pellin, Headline USA) Despite Tucker Carlson and Fox News making headlines after the wildly popular host’s show was cancelled, Carlson, while on the outs at Fox, is reportedly still employed by Fox.
That detail was apparently confirmed by Carlson, who reportedly texted the outlet 19FortyFive, “I’m still employed by Fox.”
While the outlet didn’t delve into any details about Carlson’s employment status or cryptic text message, it did note a report from Vanity Fair on a theory explaining the split.
The outlet cited a source who claimed that “Fox Corp. chair Rupert Murdoch removed Carlson over remarks Carlson made during a speech at the Heritage Foundation’s 50th Anniversary gala on Friday night.”
The speech, captured by Headline USA, featured Carlson not only blasting mainstream media, but also vibrating with “religious overtones that even Murdoch found too extreme, the source, who was briefed on Murdoch’s decision-making, said,” Vanity Fair reported.
Carlson, again without adding detail, reportedly told 19FortyFive that the religious theory “would be hard to prove.”
Whatever the precipitating cause of the split, reports indicated the termination of Carlson’s contract wasn’t completely finalized. The site 19FortyFive also pointed to previous statements from former Fox News host Megyn Kelly, as evidence to confirm its own reporting.
On Kelly’s Sirius XM show, she reportedly was told by Fox CEO Suzanne Scott that Carlson said he would not be allowed to do any more shows.
“He was kicked out of his company email, and now he has to negotiate an exit,” Kelly said. “Some reporting to me suggested that it’s going to be an amicable parting … completely catching Tucker off-guard.
The former Fox host said the treatment Carlson had received was “disheartening” and claimed that Fox wouldn’t even provide Carlson details about why his show was cancelled.
“Tucker’s not fired,” Kelly said. “That’s my information, that he still needs to negotiate the exit and that right now he’s not free to launch a podcast or a digital show or to negotiate with other employers at all because he’s still under contract. They pulled his show off the air. They also fired his executive producer Justin Wells.”
Fox and Carlson have seen their respective profiles soar in polar opposite directions since the show’s cancellation was announced. Fox market share and stock value have both tumbled, while a video message that Carlson released on Twitter received massive views and hugely supportive feedback.
Good evening pic.twitter.com/SPrsYKWKCE
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) April 27, 2023
