In a striking revelation from Brian Stelter’s forthcoming book, “Network of Lies,” it is disclosed that Tucker Carlson’s termination from Fox News was primarily attributed to him becoming “too big for his boots” and his alienation of substantial segments of the network’s staff and viewership. Carlson, a rightwing conspiracy theorist, was removed from his position in April, despite being the most-watched cable TV personality. Stelter’s exposé, recently featured in Vanity Fair, unravels the unraveling of Fox News’ most prominent figure.
The book sheds light on how Carlson, who perceived himself as indispensable, exhibited escalating toxicity, including elements of white supremacy and a penchant for demeaning women and minorities. This eventually prompted Lachlan Murdoch, then the chief executive of Fox Corp, to make the decisive move to sever ties with Carlson, as detailed in the book.
“He committed the cardinal Fox sin of acting like he was bigger than the network he was on,” Stelter remarked. “His brand, eccentric as it was, revolved around the idea that he could use derogatory language towards anyone at any time without accountability, as long as he retained the attention and affection of millions. Carlson was perceived to have Trump-like sway over the GOP base and to be irreplaceable. However, this perception was largely a product of Carlson’s making. In reality, Carlson had alienated so many individuals, instigated numerous internal and external controversies, and fueled a multitude of unpleasant incidents, rendering his dismissal inevitable.”
Stelter’s book points out that one of the significant controversies Carlson was embroiled in was the Dominion lawsuit, culminating in a $787.5 million settlement. The lawsuit was initiated by Dominion, a voting machine manufacturer, following a barrage of false claims on Fox News that the company was engaged in a plot to rig the 2020 presidential election in favor of Donald Trump, instead of the actual victor, Joe Biden.
It is worth noting that Stelter, previously known as the former chief media correspondent for CNN and host of “Reliable Sources,” has no more affiliations with CNN, and his show is no longer on air.
The book dismisses the theory, propagated by Carlson, that his termination was a condition of the Dominion settlement. Stelter offers various reasons for Carlson’s dismissal, as suggested by insiders at Fox during that time. These include Carlson’s alleged sending of racially charged texts, a matter that Dominion’s lawyers were reportedly prepared to emphasize in court had the Delaware trial proceeded.
Carlson’s growing sense of invulnerability is depicted in the book as he delved deeper into extremism, conspiracy theories, and an increasingly unpleasant attitude towards Fox colleagues and those with differing perspectives.
“Six years in primetime had transformed Carlson, darkening his demeanor and pushing him to the brink. He verbally attacked Fox News executives in New York and belittled individuals who scrutinized him,” Stelter writes. “In the view of some of his colleagues, he became unhinged.”
The book also reveals Carlson’s derogatory language towards women and his disdain for Irena Briganti, Fox News’ public relations chief, referring to her with a derogatory term.
When the decision was made in April to part ways with Carlson, it was a shocking and unexpected development, akin to “canceling Taylor Swift mid-tour or removing Stranger Things from Netflix before fans could finish the series,” according to Stelter. “It defied logic. Cancellation was unthinkable to Carlson, the highest-rated host across all of cable news, but he was suddenly facing professional termination.”
Ultimately, the Murdochs reached their limit. Lachlan Murdoch’s final decision marked a significant shift in power at Fox and News Corp, with Lachlan succeeding his father, Rupert Murdoch, as the overall head of the conglomerate in September. Stelter asserts that “Stardom is a potent and often destructive drug,” and in the end, Carlson’s overreaching and increasing isolation within the network led to his departure.
