In the wake of Fox News’s decision to let go of Tucker Carlson, there has been much speculation about why the cable news network would let go of its top-rated personality.
While the prime time 8pm slot didn’t completely tank without Carlson, it did see a significant loss in viewership.
The show, usually spearheaded by the sometimes-caustic, always controversial Carlson, pulled in just under 2.6 million viewers, about 21 percent below the average Tucker Carlson Tonight over the past eight Mondays, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
King Tucker
In an era of fractured attention between podcasts, independent news programs and platforms, and numerous Twitter feeds pontificating about everything from politics to personal hygiene, Carlson was still the king of cable news.
He consistently rated above any CNN’s or MSNBC’s most popular hosts like Rachel Maddow, received at least twice as much viewership than any other mainstream media show, and pulled in viewers who weren’t necessarily Republican.
It’s rare one personality would carry so much influence, but, if Twitter is any indication, fans seem to be canceling their subscriptions to Fox solely as a result of Carlson’s departure.
Carlson often asked questions that the establishment media wouldn’t touch – vaccinations and the pharmaceutical industry, January 6th, and Jeffrey Epstein just to list a few.
Carlson’s clout meant he could get away with controversial, and what some might even tag as conspiratorial, lines of inquiry, as he confirmed in his now-viral speech at conservative think tank Heritage Foundation’s 50th anniversary two days before news of his dismissal. “I am paid to [tell the truth]. I face no penalty. I’m a talk show host. I can have any opinion I want. That’s my job. That’s why they pay me. It’s not brave to tell the truth on a cable news show.”
At least it used to be his job. But the truth seems to be a dangerous business these days. Some are speculating Tucker was too curious in his pursuit of truth, even for Fox.
Why Was Tucker Carlson Fired?
Vanity Fair published a piece that suggested Rupert Murdoch’s disdain for Carlson’s religious undertones and the admiration of Carlson by his ex-fiancé was enough to give him the boot.
When one considers Tucker’s popularity, along with a lack of explanation from Fox, a personal vendetta seems more plausible.
The Conservative Divide
When asked about the relevance of Carlson’s overtly religious speech to his sudden departure from Fox, Kevin Roberts, Heritage’s president had this to say:
“Tucker’s speech on Friday night was a clarion call for the conservative movement—to be bold, to see our fight with the Radical Left as a battle of good versus evil, and amid all of that, to remain upbeat about our prospects, because of the inherent goodness of Americans. While I have no firsthand knowledge of Fox’s motives, I do know that Tucker is far more influential than the corporatist managers at Fox. He will reemerge, with a platform even greater and more influential, with an audience that is ready to fight for good — just as he outlined in his speech on Friday.”
Whether or not you believe in the existential battle laid out by both Carlson and Roberts, his comments reflect an ongoing divide within the conservative movement; one that seems to support the traditional political status quo and another that feels as if the bedrock of the country – an adherence to moral objectivity and liberties granted by the Creator, not government – are at risk.
If it wasn’t for his religious beliefs per se, Carlson’s sometimes populist promotion often collided with more mainstream conservative views.
Such ideas may have been too much for some people, particularly advertisers and Murdoch himself, to tolerate.
A media mogul who just settled a massive lawsuit for over $750 million is not likely to appreciate a host with an aptitude for going rouge.
Even if he was the most beloved on the channel, he was as likely to lambast Republicans as Democrats.
What’s Next?
There is some debate as whether or not Carlson will continue to attract the same attention outside of the Fox network.
Carlson doesn’t seem to be one who cares much about that. In an interview with fellow Fox personality Will Cain last fall, Carlson revealed what’s most important to him – his family and his friendships.
Outside of his Fox personality, Carlson leads a relatively quiet life in a small rural town in Maine and has a home in Florida. He enjoys being out in nature and hunting, daily saunas, and morning coffee with his wife. They are voracious readers and they don’t talk about politics. He doesn’t listen to the news aside from texts his team provides. He’s not on social media, at least not in any personal capacity.
Meanwhile, Carlson seems to be doing what he does best – laying low and enjoying his life with those he loves – namely his wife – in Florida. Proof there is no greater joy than truth and the freedom to speak it.
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Jennifer Galardi is the politics and culture editor for 19fortyfive.com. She has a Master’s in Public Policy from Pepperdine University and produces and hosts the podcast Connection with conversations that address health, culture, politics and policy. In a previous life, she wrote for publications in the health, fitness, and nutrition space. In addition, her pieces have been published in the Epoch Times and Pepperdine Policy Review. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
