In the midst of political turmoil, one influential conservative figure’s sudden exit from a top-rated news network raises eyebrows and leaves a trail of unanswered questions.
On Monday, Megyn Kelly revealed some intriguing news regarding Tucker Carlson’s departure from Fox News. As a former Fox News star herself, Kelly stated that despite the circumstances, Carlson is still under contract with the network and cannot move elsewhere for now.
Kelly clarified during her SiriusXM podcast that Carlson has not been fired, despite the impression given. Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott reportedly contacted Carlson, informing him that he would not be allowed to host any more shows and was denied access to company email. Now, the two parties must negotiate an exit from the network.
Former Top Fox News host and insider Megyn Kelly reveals Tucker not actually FIRED from Fox yet— This is what’s REALLY happening…
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) April 27, 2023
Kelly claimed that Carlson was taken aback by Scott’s call but emphasized that he was not fired. As he remains under contract, he cannot launch a podcast, digital show, or negotiate with other employers. Kelly also reported that Carlson tried to find out why he was taken off the air but received no answer from Scott.
Bill O’Reilly tells Chris Cuomo why he thinks Tucker Carlson was fired:
“That’s the nature of television news — the most wicked industry in the United States of America.”pic.twitter.com/6BYflhoDUa
— Patriot Alerts (@alerts___) April 26, 2023
The news of Carlson’s departure coincided with his negotiation for a new contract that would have reportedly kept him at Fox News until 2029. Kelly expressed her disappointment, highlighting Carlson’s success and contribution to the network during its most tumultuous period, following the dismissal of long-time CEO Roger Ailes and the loss of top stars Bill O’Reilly and Kelly herself.
The question of why Fox News treated their number one star with such disdain remains unanswered. Carlson has speculated that the Murdoch family might be preparing to sell the network, while others have different opinions.
Fox News viewership at 8pm ET:
Tucker’s finale: 2.65 million
Monday: 2.59 million
Tuesday: 1.70 million
Wednesday: 1.33 million— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) April 27, 2023
In an interview with Chris Cuomo of News Nation, Bill O’Reilly suggested that Carlson’s departure was due to Fox News facing numerous lawsuits related to the 2020 election. The network recently settled a lawsuit with Dominion for an astounding $787 million and is currently dealing with another lawsuit filed by former Fox News booker Abby Grossberg.
O’Reilly described the television news industry as the most wicked in the United States, citing Carlson’s fluctuating ratings and eventual hard right turn to appeal to a specific audience.
You can’t compare Tucker’s Fri night ratings to this week’s Mon/Tue. (Fridays in prime are where ratings go to die.) Compare his last Mon/Tue to this week’s Mon/Tue. It’s a bloodbath: they lost HALF their audience. https://t.co/bH1g6epeC0
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) April 27, 2023
As a result of Carlson’s departure, Fox News has experienced a significant drop in ratings, which Kelly referred to as a “bloodbath.” Former CNN media analyst Brian Stelter posted statistics on Twitter showing a considerable decrease in viewership for Carlson’s former 8 p.m. EDT time slot. However, Kelly argued that comparing Friday night ratings to the following week’s Monday and Tuesday ratings was not accurate, as Friday nights typically have lower viewership.
Regardless of the reasons behind Carlson’s departure, Fox News has undeniably suffered a considerable blow in terms of ratings. It remains to be seen how the network will recover from this situation and how it will impact the future of cable news.
Sources: Conservativebrief, Independent, Mediaite
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