why was tucker fired from fox

Tucker Carlson was fired from Fox News in April 2023 primarily due to escalating concerns about his behavior and views both on and off the air. Key reasons include the discovery of his extreme off-air beliefs, such as endorsing conspiracy theories like the "great replacement theory" and expressing racially charged statements in private messages. These messages, revealed during the Dominion Voting Systems defamation lawsuit, alarmed Fox's executives because they showed Carlson genuinely believed and promoted controversial rhetoric rather than just acting for the camera. The final tipping point was a troubling, racially insensitive text message from Carlson shortly before the Dominion trial, which heightened fears among Fox leadership of potential public fallout and legal liabilities. Fox executives, led by Lachlan Murdoch and CEO Suzanne Scott, decided Carlson had become more of a liability than an asset, especially in the wake of the $787 million settlement with Dominion. Additionally, Carlson was seen by Fox's leadership as having an inflated sense of invulnerability and engaging in erratic and damaging behavior. This culminated in a decision to sever ties to protect the network's reputation and future. Carlson himself believed he was irreplaceable, but Fox judged it necessary to remove him due to the risk he posed to the company.