Prominent media figures in American broadcasting were fired with Fox News host Tucker Carlson and CNN host Don Lemon both abruptly shown the door on the very same morning. They are known for their leaning towards the right and the left wings in American political ecosystem.
Fox News has not officially confirmed the exact reasons for the anchor’s exit, but sources have told various outlets that there were several factors involved in the decision. Murdoch, the Fox Corporation chairman, was concerned about Carlson’s coverage of the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in which Carlson downplayed events. He was roundly criticized for his comments, including by a number of Republican senators.
The decision to fire Carlson was also related to accusations made by Abby Grossberg, an ex-producer for Carlson, according to the L.A. Times. Grossberg was moved off of Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo and onto Tucker Carlson Tonight, where she said was bullied and subjected to antisemitic comments.
The news outlet also pointed to Carlson’s attempt to get Fox’s White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich fired for fact-checking a tweet from former president Donald Trump.
On the other hand Don Lemon’s departure marks the end of a long and influential career at CNN, where he worked as an anchor and correspondent for over 17 years. The firing of Lemon was unexpected, and he did not specify the reasons for it in his tweet. However, his recent on-air comments about women and the allegations of mistreating female colleagues, as reported by Variety, are likely to have contributed to his exit.
Lemon had been a key player in CNN’s efforts to improve its ratings and rebuild under new CEO Chris Licht. However, the new morning show that Lemon co-anchored, “CNN This Morning,” failed to gain traction with viewers.
The departure of both Lemon and Carlson on the same day has raised questions about the future of cable news and the role of star anchors in shaping public opinion.
Feedback: [email protected]
