The stunning decision by Fox News to fire Tucker Carlson last month without warning sent shockwaves across the media landscape.
Carlson was told just minutes before he was set to record his number one show that he would no longer be appearing on air.
Now, reports indicate Fox News fired Carlson as part of their $787 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems.
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The condition that Carlson be ousted does not appear on any of the settlement paperwork, but was a secret verbal agreement between Dominion and Fox News lawyers according to Variety.
“That condition was intended to hurt Fox, and Tucker is just collateral damage,” a source reportedly told Variety. “Dominion wanted to punish Fox, and it’s working.”
Fox News Channel’s ratings have collapsed since Carlson was fired in April.
Conservative activist James O’Keefe released a secret interview with a Fox News producer where Variety’s report of a verbal agreement to fire Carlson was backed up.
Fox News “gave [Dominion] money. They say it wasn’t part of it. But we’re learning that, Tucker getting fired was part of that,” the producer, Sean Langille, is heard saying.
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“Tucker getting fired was part of the Dominion lawsuit? Well, so did Tucker leave or did you guys part ways or Tucker was ousted?” the anonymous reporter asks in the video.
“Yeah, he was ousted. Well, he brought up things that cost the company a lot of money… That, that was part of it. He was going to go after this whole thing about January 6 was … an inside job. He went after this guy Ray Epps, he said he was an FBI agent on the inside … And basically encouraged it. He was going to go on the air and refute what that guy said on 60 Minutes,” Langille replies. “And the Murdochs were like, not too happy about it.”
Both Dominion and Fox News Channel have denied there was a secret verbal agreement involved in their settlement.
“As the Fox principals who negotiated the settlement well know, Dominion made no demands about Tucker Carlson’s employment orally or in writing,” Dominion said in a statement. “Any claims otherwise are categorically false and a thinly veiled effort to further damage Dominion. Fox should take every effort to stop these lies immediately.”
Carlson is still technically an employee at Fox News and is receiving his $20 million salary. According to reports, the former primetime star wants out of his contract to launch a show on the social media website Twitter — but Fox News wants him to remain on the sidelines.
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According to Variety —
Amid a standoff with Fox — technically still Carlson’s employer given that the network has not terminated his employment — the polarizing but popular anchor is poised to launch a show on Twitter within the month, two knowledgeable sources say. With “Tucker Carlson Tonight” senior executive producer Justin Wells on board, Team Carlson is working as quickly as possible to post his debut show from his home in Maine, where he has a full production studio.
If Fox tries to prevent Carlson from launching the show on the social media platform, where he enjoys a following of 7.5 million, the host is prepared to litigate or “watch the network implode attempting to challenge free speech,” says one of the sources. As the battle plays out, Fox is continuing to pay Carlson, an enormously influential voice in conservative politics, his $20 million annual salary.
The Horn editorial team