There appears to be a legal battle brewing between Fox News and Tucker Carlson since the cable network cut ties with its top-rated host last month.
Although Fox News has released little information about the reason Carlson’s prime-time program was abruptly canceled, insiders have speculated that his contract would preclude him from launching a competing show until it expires in early 2025.
Of course, the conservative pundit and his fans are surely eager for him to weigh in on political matters ahead of next year’s presidential election, and Carlson has repeatedly hinted that he will return to broadcasting in some form “soon.”
This week, he posted a social media video indicating his intention to retool the show he hosted for more than six years on Fox News and post episodes on Twitter, referring to the platform as the last remaining refuge for free speech.
*Tucker Carlson announces he’s going to use features on Twitter that are accessible to all users*
Corporate Media: pic.twitter.com/lMJXgWF13f
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) May 10, 2023
Such a move could constitute a breach of a non-compete clause in his contract, but subsequent reports indicate that he is taking the preemptive step of accusing Fox News of violating the terms of the agreement first.
According to sources cited by Axios, Carlson’s attorneys delivered his complaint to his former employer before announcing plans for a Twitter show.
Specifically, the accusation asserts that Fox News officials — including Fox Corp Chair Rupert Murdoch — engaged in “reckless disregard for the truth” in breaking promises it made to him.
The resulting fraud, attorneys allege, included releasing private communications and settling a lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems “in a way that would indicate wrongdoing” on Carlson’s part.
“These actions not only breached the covenant of good faith and fair dealing in the Agreement, but give rise to claims for breach of contract, and intentional and negligent misrepresentation,” the complaint asserts.
It remains to be seen how Fox News will respond to the latest wrinkle in the developing narrative, but Carlson has received support from fellow former Fox News personalities and other media figures.
Megyn Kelly, who left the network in 2019, encouraged Carlson to forgo the remainder of his contracted salary and allow the company to take him to court in order to ensure that he is still able to share his commentary with the public as the 2024 election approaches.
