Tucker Carlson readying for 'war' against Fox News

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Axios
8 May 2023 16:08

The famous journalist is reportedly planning to launch a media platform that would rival Fox News, but he is currently unable to due to his contract binding him to certain conditions.

Tucker Carlson speaks in National Harbor, Maryland, on April 21, 2023. (The New York Times)

Axios reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the issue, that former Fox News host Tucker Carlson is preparing to wage 'war' against Fox News in order to grant his release from his work contract, which is scheduled to expire on January 2025.

According to sources, Carlson plans to launch a media platform that would rival Fox News, but he is currently unable to due to his contract binding him to certain conditions.

"The idea that anyone is going to silence Tucker and prevent him from speaking to his audience is beyond preposterous," Carlson's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, told Axios.

Sources reportedly informed Axios that several right-wing outlets, including Rumble and Newsmax, have already contacted the former TV for job offers with pays higher than Fox News who will reportedly pay Tucker $20 million a year to "silence" him.

On another note, Axios said it received information from people close to Carlson that the latter recently held conversations with Elon Musk about collaborating together - yet no additional details were disclosed on the matter.

They also said that Carlson is considering building his own platform based on a direct-to-consumer media outlet. This would make his show only accessible via paid subscriptions or on a pay-per-view basis.

A source who requested anonymity told Axios, Carlson "knows where a lot of bodies are buried, and is ready to start drawing a map." By forging alliances with big platforms, friends of Carlson are saying he is "preparing for war."

"They're coming to him and saying: 'Do you want me to hit Fox?' '' a close Carlson friend said. "He's been saying: 'No. I want to get this done quiet and clean.' "

"Now, we're going from peacetime to Defcon 1," the friend added. "His team is preparing for war. He wants his freedom."

On the other hand, Fox News expressed gratitude towards Calrson when Axios requested comments on his parting. "We thank him for his service to the network," Fox said.

Several embarrassing revelations have surfaced about Carlson from the files of the settled Dominion Voting Systems case against Fox — including his use of obscenities against women, and a text message in which he commented on a street attack saying, "It’s not how white men fight."

Carlson's camp said his media suitors have gotten more aggressive about following up on their offers, viewing him as all the hotter.

On April 25, Fox News announced that the network and its star primetime host have "agreed to part ways." Carlson has worked for Fox News for over a decade and never got the chance to sign off to his viewers as his last show aired on Friday, April 21.

According to Fox News, the network had reached the decision to part ways with Carlson a few days after the network reached what was dubbed by Axios a "historic 11th hour settlement with Dominion Voting Systems for over $787 million."