Fox News and CNN Part Ways with Two Longtime Personalities
FOX’s Tucker Carlson (left) and CNN’s Don Lemon (right) were both released from their respective contracts early on Monday (Photos courtesy of FOX News and CNN).
Both media outlets announced the dismissals unexpectedly early Monday
Article by Tommy Lynch, Junior Correspondent
NEW YORK - Both Fox and CNN have fired longtime personalities and faces for the networks.
Fox News announced Monday that they have parted ways with Tucker Carlson, host of Tucker Carlson Tonight, which ran from 2016 until last Friday.
Carlson’s dismissal from the network comes less than one week after Fox had to pay $787.5 million to Dominion Voting Systems for promoting former President Donald Trump’s claims that the election was rigged, and voter fraud was committed on their voting machines. Based on how he ended his last show on Friday, it did not appear that Carlson was aware he was being let go.
Dan Bongino, another political commentator for Fox News, was also recently let go by the network. Bongino claims he left due to a contract dispute.
Fox News will be replacing Carlson’s show with Fox News Tonight.
“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,” the network said in a press release.
Less than an hour after the Carlson news broke, Don Lemon announced that he had been fired by CNN. His announcement was posted on social media at 12:14 PM eastern.
“I am stunned,” Lemon wrote, “After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly.”
CNN announced in a tweet that Lemon’s claim was inaccurate.
“Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate,” @CNNPR stated in a tweet, “He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”
Earlier this month, Lemon was reported to have had a history of misogynistic tendencies, including disrespecting female coworkers and making disparaging comments on air. Back in February of this year he was criticized for his disparaging remarks against Nikki Haley, for which he later publicly apologized.
“CNN and Don have parted ways,” CNN announced Monday, “…We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors.”
Lemon was a cohost of CNN This Morning with Poppy Harlow, and Kaitlan Collins, which has been on air since November of last year. According to CNN, the show will continue without Lemon.
“CNN This Morning has been on the air for nearly six months, and we are committed to its success,” CNN said in their statement regarding Lemon’s dismissal.