On Monday, Fox News Media announced that it would be parting ways with Tucker Carlson, the host of its 8 p.m. program Tucker Carlson Tonight. Carlson’s final show was on Friday.
“Fox News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways. We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor,” the company said in a statement.
Carlson had just signed a new contract with Fox News two years ago, and his program routinely ranked as the most watched on Fox News and cable TV.
Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner announced Carlson’s departure on her program Monday, saying she had some “news from within our Fox News family,” before reading the channel’s statement on Carlson’s departure.
It is not immediately clear what spurred the decision. Personal texts and emails from Carlson were made public as part of the defamation suit brought by Dominion Voting Systems. Those communications included comments that he “passionately” hated Donald Trump, and comments criticizing Fox’s news-side journalists.
Trump sat for an interview with Carlson earlier this month, his first since being indicted in a New York court.
Kilmeade opened the show Monday night by referencing Carlson’s exit. “As you probably have heard, Fox News and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways,” he said. “I wish Tucker the best. I’m great friends with Tucker and always will be.”
