Once a prominent figure on FOX News, conservative commentator Tucker Carlson appears to be enjoying his newfound freedom after being abruptly fired from the network. Spotted driving his wife, Susan, in his golf cart from their $5.3 million Boca Grande, Florida property, the 53-year-old former host of Tucker Carlson Tonight seemed unfazed by his recent dismissal, exclaiming, "Retirement is going great so far!" to photographers.
Despite being in discussions with smaller conservative outlets such as NewsNation, Newsmax TV, and The Daily Wire, media experts speculate that Carlson's controversies may render him untouchable for any network.
Carlson's recent troubles include the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit against FOX News, which exposed his dishonesty about the alleged rigging of the 2020 presidential election. Furthermore, he produced Patriot Purge, a three-part series asserting that the January 6, 2021, Capitol Hill attack was a false flag operation orchestrated by liberals, not an insurrection by enraged Donald Trump supporters.
Carlson is also contending with a lawsuit from former producer Abby Grossberg, who alleges she experienced "bullying, sexism, and anti-Semitism" under his supervision. While Carlson denies these accusations, an insider asserts, "his reputation is in tatters. None of the major networks want anything to do with him."
Carlson's termination from FOX News, reportedly ordered directly by Rupert Murdoch, followed the network's disastrous $787 million settlement with Dominion. Insiders reveal that the once-popular host was blindsided by the decision and not allowed to bid farewell to his audience. One source commented, "Tucker was a poster boy for all of FOX's problems and had to go."
This comes after Dan Bongino's departure from the network and Lou Dobbs' dismissal in 2021 due to his involvement in the Dominion lawsuit. Behind the scenes at FOX News, there is widespread panic as employees anticipate large-scale layoffs and budget cuts to mitigate the financial impact of the legal settlement. Another insider said, "A few weeks ago, FOX had the highest-rated news shows on cable TV. Now, they're a joke to everyone, except maybe the hardcore base, and there's hell to pay."