Tucker Carlson, one of the most influential conservative voices in the American media, was ousted from Fox News on Friday. The firebrand host of Fox News’ highest-rated primetime show found out about his firing 10 minutes before a statement by the channel, according to Wall Street Journal.

“Fox News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways,” the statement said. “We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor.” 

The last episode of the right-wing host’s programme was Friday, according to the statement by Fox News. The channel denied him any opportunity to bid his viewers goodbye. A part of the channel since 2009, Carlson had signed off of Friday’s show of Tucker Carlson Tonight with a “best weekend” wish, promising to be back on Monday. “Not being given a chance to sign off is the television equivalent of an execution” — that’s what media commentator Brian Stelter wrote in a Vanity Fair piece.

The network did not provide any reason for his dismissal – which comes less than a week after Fox News struck a $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems over a defamation lawsuit concerning its spread of misinformation to favour Donald Trump during the 2020 US elections.    

Texts on top executives 

In the run up to the settlement, some of Carlson’s messages to his colleagues, criticising the network’s top executives had made headlines, according to the Wall Street Journal. 

In the texts to his producer, Justin Wells, who was also fired, Carlson said following Joe Biden’s victory: “Do the executives understand how much credibility and trust we’ve lost with our audience?”

“Those f****** are destroying our credibility.”

“A combination of incompetent liberals and top leadership with too much pride to back down is what's happening.”

He also expressed that he “passionately” hated Donald Trump, describing him as “a demonic force, a destroyer”.

While many of the text messages by Carlson were redacted at Fox attorneys’ request, they have been seen by the senior Fox executives.

Charges of fostering a ‘hostile work environment’ by former producer 

Another factor that could have led to his dismissal, many speculated, were the many cases lodged against Carlson. In one of the pending cases, Abby Grossberg, a former producer for his show, has sued him and Fox News for fostering a hostile work environment.

Grossberg claimed that she was “coerced, intimidated, and misinformed” for her deposition in the Dominion lawsuit. 

‘Rupert wants to sell the company’

Meanwhile, British tabloid Daily Mail report claimed that Carlson’s departure could be a precursor to media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s plans to sell the channel.

A source in the channel told the Daily Mail: “We believe Rupert wants to sell the company and it’s harder to find an institutional buyer with Tucker as the main star. Tucker gone makes it more of an appealing media company to buy.”

The 53-year-old was negotiating the renewal of his contract with Fox News, earning over $20 million a year.