Tucker Carlson erupted in anger after Fox News criticized Donald Trump in a social media post shortly after the 2020 election, agreeing with its producer that they need to find out who is responsible for the content and they need to stop before the brand being “damaged too much”.
Carlson, who was fired from Fox News on April 23, has found that many of his private text messages were published in connection with the Dominion Voting Systems defamation case.
Fox settled $787 million on April 19, but Dominion’s legal team had already secured access to a tranche of messages between Fox stars and executives, in which several of them admitted they knew Trumps Allegations of electoral fraud were absurd, but they repeated them on TV.
Carlson’s messages were seen by Fox’s board of directors and are said to have contributed to his firing.
They were scathing and at times offensive in their condemnation of the Fox leadership, calling both Trump’s attorney Sidney Powell and an unnamed senior Fox executive “sc***.”
The latest lyrics obtained by The Daily Beast also revealed that Carlson and his producer Justin Wells had strong feelings for the “brand” and made a point of reassuring their viewers.
According to The Daily Beast, Tucker Carlson was furious with Fox News’ social media posts criticizing Trump, according to text messages he sent to his producer Justin Wells
Carlson is seen with his producer Wells (left), who was fired April 23 along with the Fox News host
Wells pointed out to Carlson on November 19, 2020 that a social media post on an official Fox News account was critical of Trump.
The post referenced a Fox News Digital article that highlighted Trump’s refusal to recognize the election and abide by COVID protocols.
Wells sent the link to Carlson and said, “Open it fully.” It’s our networks [sic] official Instagram feed. Literally four to five individual digs at Trump for pardoning Turkey.
“It’s actually incredible.” We try to piss people off for no reason. We can’t fix everything about Fox, but there is a “systemic” problem here (to use overused 2020 phrasing).”
Justin Wells, Carlson’s producer
Carlson agreed, responding that they needed to point out what they felt was the report’s flaw and agreed to pressure those responsible to “correct” their course.
“We’re not going to succeed if this continues,” Carlson said.
“The brand is being damaged too much.” To get the message across, let’s look at a few examples. Let’s start with this one. Can we find out who did this?’
Carlson continued, “I’m happy to start threatening people one-by-one.” It’s too much. And again, if we let it go on like this, it will do us serious harm.’
Wells said he wanted to “find out who did this first” because he “wanted to be armed with more details.”
Carlson thanked Wells, adding, “Fox needs to hire someone to make sure our ‘news’ coverage is right on target and fair.” Like today.’
The lyrics released by The Daily Beast are the latest in a series of published messages that show Carlson in a brutal light.
Carlson and Fox have not commented on the news.
Wells, asked for his answer by The Daily Beast, said he “didn’t quite get what the story was about or what it was about.”
Network executives are angered by the “snide and derogatory remarks” he’s made about colleagues, including a plea for firing White House reporter Jacqui Heinrich for fact-checking Donald Trump and labeling his bosses “incompetent liberals.” ‘ and ‘ F******’.
Tucker Carlson was furious with Fox reporter Jacqui Heinrich (right) fact-checking Trump. He demanded her release
Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott called Carlson on April 23 to fire him. Carlson, in a November 9, 2020 text message to her, expressed outrage at the decision to call for Biden
Tucker Carlson Tonight ran from 2016 to 2023 and regularly attracted more than 3 million viewers each night
The day after Joe Biden was elected, Carlson told a colleague, “Do executives understand how much credibility and trust we’ve lost with our audience?”
In another, he said, “This shit destroys our credibility.”
He later wrote, “What is happening is a combination of incompetent liberals and a leadership too proud to back down.”
Carlson regularly vented his anger on his Wells, who was also fired on April 23.
“We’re really playing with fire… an alternative like Newsmax could be devastating for us,” he said.
On November 9, 2020, he told Suzanne Scott, the CEO who eventually fired him, that he was alarmed by the drop in ratings after the network announced Biden’s election two days earlier.
“I’ve never seen a reaction like this from any media outlet.” “It’s killing me to look at it,” Carlson said.
Carlson hasn’t commented on his news — and even the redacted news may still be published. The New York Times, The Associated Press and National Public Radio have challenged editors.
In addition, the network is facing another lawsuit for defamation – this one was filed by Smartmatic, a second voting machine maker allegedly defamed by hosts and guests.
Carlson’s messages, which were not the sole factor in his firing but played a large part, are likely to play a large role in the Smartmatic case.
Just weeks before the trial began, lawyers contacted Carlson and told him with relief that they had successfully campaigned to have his most vicious remarks about the executives blacked out, according to the Journal.
But instead of being pleased, Carlson was irritated.
A source told The Wall Street Journal that the 53-year-old wanted to make his feelings about the executive public.
Meade Cooper, executive vice president of programming. Carlson told her about Jacqui Heinrich’s tweet fact-checking Donald Trump — a tweet that infuriated Carlson
Carlson, 53, was fired from Fox News on April 23. He was given no reason for his dismissal, but was reportedly told it was a “top-down” decision.
Carlson wasn’t the only Fox official upset by the decision to call the election, but he was among the most passionate.
In a group text sent out Nov. 12, Sean Hannity wrote to Carlson and Laura Ingraham, “In one week and one debate they destroyed a brand that took 25 years to build and the damage is incalculable.”
Carlson replied, “It’s vandalism.”
Later that evening, Carlson referred Hannity to a tweet by Fox reporter Jacqui Heinrich, who reviewed a tweet by Trump that mentioned Dominion election conspiracy theories.
“There is no evidence that any voting system has erased or lost votes, altered votes, or been compromised in any way,” she wrote.
Carlson texted Hannity and Ingraham, “Please get her fired.” Seriously… what the heck? I’m actually shocked. It has to stop immediately, like tonight. It damages the company measurably. The share price has gone down. No joke.’
He said he discussed Heinrich’s factually correct tweet with Meade Cooper, the executive vice president of programming.
“It just made me mad about Meade,” Carlson wrote.
According to The New York Times, Heinrich deleted her offending tweet, even though she subsequently posted an almost identical fact check about Trump.
Producer Abby Grossberg filed a lawsuit against Fox, making specific claims about Carlson’s show
Grossberg tweeted that Carlson’s departure was “great for America.”
Fox didn’t give a reason for the departure of its most-watched news anchor, saying, “Fox News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways.”
“We thank him for his services to the network as a moderator and before that as a contributor.”
Abby Grossberg, a former top booker on his show, has sued Carlson and Fox for a hostile workplace, sexual harassment and other alleged wrongdoing.
She claimed she was “coerced, intimidated and misinformed” while preparing to testify in the $1.6 billion Dominion defamation case.
Grossberg added that as a woman at Fox, she faced discrimination, “overworked, undervalued, no opportunity for advancement” and faced “vile sexist stereotypes.”
She told that Carlson’s sacking felt like an “admission of guilt” from the channel.
“This is a step towards accountability for Fox News’ election lies and baseless conspiracy theories, which I witnessed firsthand at the station, as well as for the insults and harassment I have endured as bookings director and executive producer on Tucker Carlson Tonight. ‘ she tweeted.
“I think that’s great for America!” “It’s a huge win for cable news viewers, not just those who watch Fox.”
Another legal dispute is emerging.
A Jan. 6 protester, Ray Epps, wrote a legal letter to Carlson demanding an apology after Carlson claimed he was an FBI whistleblower sent to the Capitol to foment the riot and Donald Trump to discredit.
Another reason for his sacking is believed to be the fact that advertisers were increasingly avoiding Carlson’s show because of his provocative remarks, including claims that the January 6 rioters were tourists.
Rupert Murdoch, who was seen in November 2019, is considering selling Fox News, sources told , and felt the network would be more attractive to buyers without Carlson
Two days after his sacking as America’s most-watched cable news host, Carlson addressed his fans in a two-minute video posted to Twitter and spoke cryptically about his silence.
Carlson delivered a harsh verdict on the state of modern America without directly referring to his firing — aside from noting that he managed to “step out of the noise for a few days.”
He explained the country looks “very much like a one-party state” where those “in charge” silence the debate and become “hysterical and aggressive” because “they’re scared”.
Carlson said America’s ruling class has “given up persuasion: it’s resorting to violence.” But he insisted that the “honest people” would ultimately win.
“The liars who tried to shut them up are shrinking and they’re getting weaker,” he said.
“That is the iron law of the universe: true things triumph.”
He announced this week that he will be broadcasting his show on Twitter.