“Stunning” news: Tucker Carlson departs Fox News Channel; Don Lemon exits CNN
In “stunning” news just before the upfront advertising market is set to begin, leading cable TV prime-time news host Tucker Carlson is departing Fox News Channel, effective immediately, reports TVNewser.
According to TVNewser, the decision comes “just days after Fox News and Fox Corp settled their defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for a record $787.5 million over the network’s promotion of ex-President Donald Trump’s false 2020 presidential election claims.
“Many wondered if the Murdoch family would make any substantial changes at the network in light of the settlement. Well, here’s one.
“Carlson was a central figure in the defamation lawsuit, as we’ve detailed countless times in recent weeks. Not only that, but a former producer at the network named Abby Grossberg recently accused Carlson and his show staff of making anti-Semitic and misogynistic remarks behind the scenes on a frequent basis.”
Meanwhile, at CNN, news anchor Don Lemon is exiting the cable network, reports NPR.
“Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years,” the news outlet said in a tweet. “We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors.”
In a statement posted to his Twitter account, Lemon confirmed his ouster, saying his agent told him Monday morning that he had been terminated by CNN.
“I am stunned. After 17 years at CNN, I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly,” Lemon said.
Lemon had recently returned to the air after taking time off following sexist and ageist remarks he made on CNN about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, states NPR.
CARLSON PHOTO: FOX
