Tucker Carlson, the highest-rated cable TV host credited with setting the agenda for US conservatives, has left Fox News, the network announced.
In a statement, Fox News said it and Carlson had agreed to “part ways”.
His last TV programme was Friday 21 April, the statement added. His primetime slot will now be hosted by a series of interim hosts until a permanent replacement is found.
The brief two-paragraph statement gave no reason for the abrupt decision.
The Los Angeles Times, citing unnamed people familiar with the situation, reports that the decision to fire Carlson came from the top, including Fox chairman Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan.
The 53-year-old was not just a popular presenter, but also a hugely influential one. His shows frequently set the agenda for conservatives and, by extension, the Republican party.
His programme offered a blend of populist conservative takes on issues ranging from immigration, crime, race, gender and sexuality, with “woke” ideology becoming a frequent target.
It made up four of the top 10 rated programmes on US cable TV, according to Nielsen data for the week 27 March to 2 April.
He was Fox News’ top-rated host, with more than three million viewers tuning in on an average night.
While Carlson often publicly agreed with Donald Trump, whose politics have transformed the Republican party in recent years, he would occasionally diverge from the former president’s political views.
- Tucker Carlson is a conservative political commentator, journalist, and television personality who UNTIL recently, hosted Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News Channel.
- Carlson was born on May 16, 1969, in San Francisco, California. He is the eldest son of Richard Warner Carlson, a former Los Angeles news anchor and U.S. ambassador to the Seychelles, and Lisa McNear, an artist.
- Carlson attended Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, where he majored in history. He is also a graduate of the St. George’s School in Newport, Rhode Island.
- Carlson started his journalism career as a fact-checker for Policy Review, a conservative journal. He later worked for The Weekly Standard and The New Republic, and served as co-host of CNN’s Crossfire.
- Carlson has written for several publications, including Esquire, The Weekly Standard, and The New York Times Magazine. He is also the author of several books, including “Politicians, Partisans, and Parasites: My Adventures in Cable News.”
- Carlson has been a controversial figure due to his views on issues such as immigration, race, and gender. He has been criticized for promoting white nationalism and for making inflammatory statements about women and minorities.
- In 2018, Carlson came under fire for his comments about immigrants, when he said that they were making the United States “dirtier.” The comment drew widespread condemnation, including from advertisers, who pulled their ads from his show.
- Despite the controversy, Carlson remains one of the most-watched hosts on cable news, with his show averaging more than three million viewers per night.
- Carlson is married to Susan Carlson, and they have four children together. He is also an avid outdoorsman and has written about his love of hunting and fishing.
- In 2020, Carlson faced criticism for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, with some accusing him of downplaying the severity of the virus and spreading misinformation. Carlson has also been criticized for promoting conspiracy theories, including the false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump.
