On Monday April 25, both Fox News, the ultra-conservative news network, and CNN, a liberally-based channel, let go of one of their primetime television anchors. Tucker Carlson, known for his speculating multiple conspiracy theories, parted ways with Fox as Don Lemon, having worked the ranks of CNN for 17 years, was fired.
Tucker Carlson has been called the most controversial reporter on any news network in recent years. He has been been caught for spewing many lies on topics including the 2020 election, COVID-19, the January 6 attacks, and more events.. Carlson has also been called out for his sexist, racist, homophobic, and xenophobic rhetoric to “brainwash his audience” like his strong criticism of President Obama’s immigration policy where he stated immigrants make the country “dirtier”. His leave also comes a week after Fox News settled with Dominion to pay $787.5 million for falsely claiming election fraud. Rupert Murdoch, Fox’s owner, stated he is rebuilding the Fox team in order to be “less vulnerable”. Carlson is mainly responsible for the huge fee Fox was forced to pay. During the trials, the prosecuters against Fox used mainly clips from Carlson’s show and even his private text messages which showed he truly wasn’t a supporter of former President Trump. Now that he is gone, where will he go next?
Don Lemon was a CNN anchor for many years, known for his edgy opinions on the former president and other conservatives in Congress. Some controversial moments from his time as a host on CNN included calling the former president “racist,” saying, “A lot of us already knew that.” Lemon was on the receiving end of backless from conservative politicians inlcuding the former President who, the day after Lemon’s firing, called him “dumbest man on television.” The believed reason he was let go was because he was caught under fire for claiming Republican Nikki Haley was “not in her prime”, referring to her age. He worked for almost two decades for the Cable News Network.
Is it a coincidence that both were let go the same day? Although it is likely, why would Lemon be let go over two months after his controversy occurred? It seems there is much more to the story than the public is being told. Could there be a corporate fight between the two networks? A lawsuit that was settled by these moves? This may still be a developing story.
- Jacob Francy