Tucker Carlson had the highest rated show in cable news.
That did not stop Fox News from showing him the door.
And now Carlson has finally revealed this phone conversation that went down when Fox News gave him the axe.
Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson was fired out of the blue despite having the top cable news show.
Fox News still has not explained why Carlson was pulled off the air, and the company had hoped to keep him under wraps until his contract expires in January 2025.
Getting out of the system
But Carlson skirted Fox News’ non-compete clause by taking his show to Twitter.
Fortunately, Twitter had been taken over by Elon Musk, who bought the platform for $44 billion and took it private with the goal of bringing back a culture of free speech.
And Carlson revealed that Musk gave him a call after his Fox News ouster.
Carlson recently appeared on comedian Theo Von’s podcast to discuss the situation.
Von said, “It’s brave for people to get out of the system.”
Tucker replied, “Well, I was expelled from the system…Elon called me the day my show was canceled, and I was grateful that he did.”
Musk reassured him that Twitter (now X) would protect free speech, so Carlson would be free to put his show on the platform without fear of censorship.
Carlson made clear his show hadn’t entered any kind of financial or partnership deal with Twitter, but Musk gave him his word that he’d “keep the platform” and hoped Carlson would bring his audience to it.
A home for folks “expelled from the system”
“I’m going to keep the platform open, and people with differing views, whether you agree with them or not, are welcome on the platform…That’s the guarantee that I wanted and needed,” Carlson recounted describing the conversation.
Thus far, Musk has kept his word and Carlson has been able to produce the show he wanted.
Shortly after Fox News took Carlson off the air, he explained in a video message, “Starting soon, we’ll be bringing a new version of the show we’ve been doing for the last six and a half years to Twitter…We’ll be bringing some other things too, which we’ll tell you about. But for now, we’re just grateful to be here. Free speech is the main right that you have, without it, you have no others. See you soon.”
Many believe that Carlson is planning to build his own media company.
Carlson is already well on his way to doing just that, although some would-be partners and advertisers are likely holding back until his Fox News contract runs out officially at the end of next year.
The floodgates will almost certainly break open for Carlson once the threat of lawsuits from Fox News against potential advertisers is over.
Many have speculated that Fox News wanted to keep Carlson muzzled throughout the 2024 presidential election, but that has not worked.
Carlson has been as unfiltered as ever with his Tucker on X show.
At least one major advertiser has already thumbed its nose at the threat of potential legal action.
Shopping app Public Square, also known as PublicSq, stepped up to jump on the opportunity to partner with Carlson, with the company which is perhaps best described as a values-driven marketplace dedicated to free speech announcing in October that it had inked a deal with Carlson.
Stay tuned to Unmuzzled News for any updates to this ongoing story.
