Fox News said Monday that it is saying goodbye to host Tucker Carlson, the network’s most popular primetime host and a leading voice in the modern conservative movement.
The network announced the shocking news days after it agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems nearly $800 million to avoid a high-stakes defamation lawsuit that had cast a shadow over the future of the network.
«FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways,» the company said in a brief press release. «Mr. Carlson’s last show was on Friday, April 21.»
Fox News did not specify why Carlson is leaving the network and a spokeswoman did not immediately respond to an email from NBC News. The chain’s statement did not include any comment from Carlson.
«Tucker Carlson Tonight,» a cornerstone of Fox News programming since 2016, was one of the most watched cable news shows, beating out rivals on CNN and MSNBC.
Carlson established himself as one of the most influential figures in a conservative political coalition reshaped by former President Donald Trump. She regularly sparked controversy with inflammatory statements on race, LGBTQ rights, and other issues.
In the lead up to Dominion’s trial, Carlson’s internal communications were released showing him criticizing Trump and acknowledging that his claims about voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election were unsubstantiated.
This is a developing story. Please check for updates.
jason abruzzese contributed.