Tucker Carlson Claims He 'Really' Doesn't Know Why Fox News Parted Ways With Him
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Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson says he “honestly” doesn’t know why his former network parted ways with him in April.
Carlson, who is now eight episodes deep into his month-old Twitter show, weighed in on his abrupt exit from Fox as he spoke with Russell Brand on Friday’s episode of the “Stay Free” podcast.
The conservative commentator began by acknowledging his previous departures from major news networks, but said he was still surprised to be let go from Fox earlier this year.
“I was shocked, but I wasn’t really shocked,” Carlson said. “And I wasn’t mad. It’s not my company. And when you work for someone else, that person reserves the right, and in fact has inherently the right, to decide whether you work there or not.”
He added: “I don’t know why I was fired, I really don’t. I’m not angry about it. You can believe me or not, but I think you can feel that I’m not.”
However, Carlson then bemoaned the “ugly leaking” at Fox to The New York Times, which reported that he had sent an offensive text message to one of his producers — panicking the higher-ups at his network. Carlson complained to Brand that the leak characterized him as racist.
“But that’s not true, and I think the people who run the company know that’s not true,” Carlson said. “And I’m not mad about it. And I’ve been happy.”
HuffPost has reached out to Fox regarding Carlson’s remarks.
His comments arrive less than a month after news broke that Fox sent Carlson a cease-and-desist letter over his new Twitter show. The network claims that the show violates a contract with him that expires in 2025.
Fox has since laid off several former staffers on Carlson’s old show and named Jesse Watters to permanently take over Carlson’s prime-time slot later this month.
(H/T Mediaite)
