Former Fox News host Dan Bongino reacted with horror to the news that his former employer actually fired the network’s top-rated host, Tucker Carlson, on Friday.
“Folks, I gotta tell you, I got actual goosebumps,” Bongino said, looking stunned.
“There are very rare moments in the show where I have to stop the show completely, especially in a live chat. Not to stop the show but apparently Tucker Carlson and Fox are done. I’m reading it right here, it just broke,” he continued. “I’m stunned, I’m stunned, I don’t even know what to say right now, like I don’t even know how I’m going to get back to that segment.”
WATCH:
Dan Bongino is on air live when he finds out Tucker Carlson and Fox News parted ways pic.twitter.com/sZx9U54BZx
— • ?IS??I?? ™ • (@4Mischief) April 24, 2023
Bongino proceeded to read the contents of Fox’s official statement, which characterized the separation as friendly and expressed gratitude towards Carlson for his tenure as a host and contributor.
“Carlson’s last program was Friday April 21st, Fox News said, meaning Carlson did not get a chance to sign off to his viewers. The news comes days after Fox News reached a historic 11th hour settlement with Dominion Voting Systems for over $787 million,” said a scoop on Monday from Axios.
The network said:
FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways. We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor. Mr. Carlson’s last program was Friday April 21st. Fox News Tonight will air live at 8 PM/ET starting this evening as an interim show helmed by rotating FOX News personalities until a new host is named.
FOX News Media operates the FOX News Channel (FNC), FOX Business Network (FBN), FOX News Digital, FOX News Audio, FOX News Books, the direct-to-consumer streaming services FOX Nation and FOX News International and the free ad-supported television service FOX Weather. Currently the number one network in all of cable, FNC has also been the most watched television news channel for more than 21 consecutive years, while FBN ranks among the top business channels on cable. Owned by Fox Corporation, FOX News Media reaches nearly 200 million people each month.
BREAKING: Tucker Carlson is out at Fox News. This is the biggest mistake Fox has ever made. I don’t know the reason for the exit but the timing couldn’t be worse for Fox. pic.twitter.com/c04unaFcwT
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) April 24, 2023
On Monday, the media industry was in disbelief after two well-known hosts, Carlson and Don Lemon from CNN, were dismissed within an hour of each other under different circumstances. Despite both appearing surprised by the timing, Carlson ended his last show on Friday with indications that he was unaware of the decision.
On the other hand, Lemon took to Twitter to express his displeasure that CNN executives had not informed him of his termination. However, the station’s media relations account contradicted Lemon’s assertion, stating that the host was offered a meeting with executives but declined to attend.