The star presenter of Fox News, Tucker Carlson, has left the influential television network. The ultra-conservative broadcaster confirmed it, days after reaching an agreement in which he must pay $787.5 million in a defamation case. The news coincided with host Don Lemon’s departure from CNN after 17 years.
“Fox News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed break up with. We thank him for his service to the network as an anchor and first as a contributor,” Fox News said in a statement.
As it turned out, last Friday was his last appearance on the Fox News Tonight program. In the coming days he will continue to air with rotating figures of the chain, until the name of the replacement is defined.
The news giant agreed on Tuesday to settle voting tech firm Dominion in one million dollars. He did so to avoid going to trial in the company’s lawsuit, which would have exposed how the chain lies being promoted about the 2020 presidential election in which Joe Biden won, while Trump claimed fraud that has been proven non-existent.
The deal was finalized moments before the initial trial discussions began, putting an abrupt end to a case that had embarrassed Fox News for several months.
Despite the size of the disbursement, the broadcaster’s problems are not over yet: lawsuits are still pending to seek responsibility from right-wing personalities who spread lies about the elections. In parallel with the Dominion case, election technology company Smartmatic is suing Fox News for defamation and is asking $2.7 billion in damages.
“The Dominion litigation has exposed some of the misconduct and harm caused by misinformation at Fox. Smartmatic will bring the rest to lightsaid J. Erik Connolly, attorney for Smartmatic.
He added that the company was “committed to clearing its name, recovering its grievous damages and holding Fox accountable for undermining democracy.” Tuesday’s settlement, announced shortly before the trial began, was reached for about half of the $1.6 billion initially requested by Dominion.
Fox thus avoided a high-profile trial that would become a parade of network personalities, including its owner, mogul Rupert Murdoch, and its hitherto host, Tucker Carlson.
CNN fired Don Lemon
The estrangement of this star from the conservative channel is added, but in the ranks of the progressive media, to that of the presenter Don Lemonwhich was shut down by the CNN channel, which was not to their liking.
In a brief note, the channel reported that “CNN and Don have gone their separate ways,” according to The New York Times, which reproduces the statement.
“Don will always be a part of the CNN family and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years. We wish him the best and encourage him in his future endeavours,” the network wrote.
The journalist was one of the hosts of the “This Morning” program and began his career at CNN in September 2006.
Last February she was the subject of a controversy by ensuring that a woman “considers herself at her best in her 20s, 30s and maybe 40s”, which earned her a wave of criticism despite later apologizing.
Lemon, who participated in the program this morning, assured on his Twitter account that he had been informed by his agent of the end of his contract: “I’m amazed”She said.
“After 17 years at CNN I thought someone in management would have the decency to tell me directly,” he said before thanking all the colleagues and teams he worked with.
“They are the most talented journalists and I wish them the best,” he concluded.
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.