On Monday, former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly blasted the network’s decision to part ways with popular host Tucker Carlson, saying the decision was “a terrible move” and a “massive misjudgment of what their audience wants.”
Meanwhile, the fill-in tasked with the unfortunate job of subbing for Carlson on the night of his departure, Brian Kilmeade, showed his support for the fired host by opening the show with the statement, “I am great friends with Tucker and always will be.”
Brian Kilmeade open Tucker Carlson's old timeslot with a perfunctory announcement about Tucker's departure from the network.
"I am great friends with Tucker and always will be." pic.twitter.com/DMwCXwgm0S
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 25, 2023
As RedState’s Sister Toldjah reported, the decision to axe the opinionated host “literally came out of nowhere.” Pundits were quick to point out that the announcement came just days after Fox News’ parent company settled Dominion Voting Systems’ defamation lawsuit for $787.5 million.
Carlson was said to be stunned by the Monday morning phone call from CEO Suzanne Scott telling him he was being taken off the air. The HBO show “Succession” seems tame in comparison.
Kelly, who left the network in 2017 after 13 years, lambasted the Rupert Murdoch-run enterprise for ditching its most captivating voice:
“This is a terrible move by Fox, and it’s a great thing for Tucker Carlson,” said Kelly on her Sirius XM podcast. “I don’t know what drove Fox News to make this decision, and it was clearly Fox News’s decision because they’re not letting him say goodbye. That’s my supposition. That’s not inside knowledge.”
Watch:
Stock for the Fox Corporation (FOX) took a nosedive after the news broke, and it was down over five percent at one point on Monday. Kelly:
I think this is a massive error. I think this is a massive misjudgment of what their audience wants.
There is all sorts of speculation on the internet about why exactly the top-rated host—who outperforms his competition by significant margins—was let go. Although the Dominion suit was settled before going to trial, significant emails were introduced during the discovery phase:
The suit saw private messages reveal that Carlson hates Donald Trump “passionately,” making it awkward for the conservative network and the likely Republican presidential candidate. The messages also saw Carlson attack Fox leadership, which the Rupert Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal said was a significant factor in his firing.
Kelly wasn’t buying that the Dominion case played a big role, saying:
Rupert Murdoch “made enough admissions during his deposition to sink the company at the trial without the help from Tucker. Why would they want Tucker’s scalp? They would want Maria [Bartiromo’s].
“They would want Jeanine Pirro’s scalp. They would want Suzanne Scott’s scalp.”
She predicted Carlson would set up his own media company, and “crush it.”
“This is going to be great for Tucker. I’m not worried about Tucker at all,” Kelly added.
“I predict Tucker goes independent. Tucker launches a podcast or digital show and crushes it. Absolutely crushes it.”
As for the rumors that Carlson might run for higher office now that he’s been relieved of his Fox duties, Kelly was unconvinced:
“A lot of people think he’s going to run for office. I don’t think so. I just don’t think so. Tucker’s got way more influence sitting behind a microphone than he does standing on a debate stage,” she said.
“Tucker’s the only reason a lot of people still watch Fox News, with respect to my other colleagues there, I’m saying he’s their favorite.”
Count me as one of those people. Fox News just got a lot less interesting with the loss of Tucker Carlson, one of the strongest and sharpest voices in the nation.
Related:
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The Left Should be Very Worried About Tucker Carlson’s Departure from Fox, Not Celebratory
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