Tucker Carlson says he is not angry about his departure from Fox and wishes the network well. Speaking to Russell Brand on his Stay Free podcast, the popular host said getting fired is part of the business, and when a person in the media truly speaks their mind, they risk losing their job.
Carlson hinted that some of his controversial comments were responsible for his abrupt exit, but he added that he is not clear on why Fox let him go. “I didn’t expect to get fired that morning at all in April. So I was shocked, but I wasn’t really shocked, and I wasn’t mad,” he said before adding, “I don’t know why I was fired. I really don’t.”
Fox News announced the sudden departure of its most-watched anchor in April, and speculation remains as to why the network made that decision. Some commentators suggest it was Carlson’s role in the $787 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems, which sued the network for its coverage of the 2020 election and President Trump’s insistence that it was rigged. Carlson also controversially spoke about Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021, and said there was no “insurrection.”
Furthermore, in some episodes of Tucker Carlson Tonight, the host claimed that former US Marine Ray Epps was an undercover agent who deliberately whipped up the crowds on January 6. While film from the day shows Mr. Epps encouraging protestors to enter Capitol buildings, he was never arrested or charged with a crime.
Epps has now filed a lawsuit against Fox, saying he has lost his home and business, and suffered threats and harassment because he was named as an undercover federal agent by the network’s hosts. Legal experts suggest Epps, who blames Tucker Carlson primarily, has a strong case.
Meanwhile, Carlson launched a new show on Twitter in June, initially greeted by millions of viewers. By July however, his viewership had dropped by a huge 86%.
