In a developing story, Tucker Carlson, former Fox News host, is reportedly gearing up for a legal confrontation against the media giant. The reason? Fox News’ refusal to release Carlson from his existing contract, effectively barring him from working with other networks until January 2025.

Fox News announced its decision to sever ties with Carlson last month, a move that has sparked speculation and conjecture concerning the reasons behind the decision. Despite the separation, Carlson hasn’t been officially terminated, as the terms of his $20 million per year contract continue to bind him, disallowing him to work in the industry for another 20 months.

The implications of this restriction could be significant. As a popular host, Carlson will be unable to actively contribute to the coverage of the 2024 presidential election.

In response to the situation, Carlson’s team is reportedly preparing for a legal confrontation. According to a close friend of Carlson who spoke to Axios, the conservative commentator had initially hoped to “get this done quiet and clean,” but has now shifted gears, with his team moving from a “peacetime” strategy to a more aggressive stance akin to “Defcon 1.”

 

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Recent events have seen several behind-the-scenes videos of Carlson being leaked to left-wing media outlets. Fox News, however, has denied any involvement in these leaks.

Further fueling the controversy, an inside source revealed to the media that Carlson is ready to disclose potentially damaging information, suggesting he “knows where a lot of bodies are buried, and is ready to start drawing a map.”

Meanwhile, other media outlets such as Newsmax and Rumble have reportedly offered Carlson contracts exceeding his previous pay at Fox. In addition, reports suggest that Carlson has been in talks with Elon Musk, owner of Twitter, about a possible new venture.

Carlson’s lawyer, Byran Freedman, conveyed his client’s resolve to Axios, stating, “The idea that anyone is going to silence Tucker and prevent him from speaking to his audience is beyond preposterous.”

The impact of Carlson’s departure on Fox News’ ratings has been substantial. The network has reportedly lost almost half of its viewership in the slot that Carlson previously held. Furthermore, other shows on the network have also seen a significant decline in their audience figures, particularly within the highly valued 25-54 age demographic.

In a contrasting reaction, members of the US military-industrial complex have openly celebrated Carlson’s exit from Fox News, with one member declaring “good riddance!”

As the situation unfolds, it will be intriguing to see how this potential legal battle shapes the future of Tucker Carlson, Fox News, and the broader media landscape.