Fox Information and CNN look loads totally different with two of cable information’s most recognizable faces, Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon, ousted from their respective dwelling networks. Because the mud settles from Monday’s gorgeous shakeups, all eyes are already on what’s subsequent for the 2 anchors, Carlson specifically.
Carlson and Lemon be a part of an inventory of different outstanding newscasters who’ve misplaced their jobs amid controversy. The very fact neither Fox Information nor CNN has given a selected purpose as to why the on-air expertise was terminated solely provides gasoline to the media firestorm that has ensued.
So, the place do Lemon and Carlson go from right here? Yahoo Leisure canvassed a number of consultants, who weighed in doable touchdown spots based mostly on how the hosts’ friends weathered different controversies.
Lemon and Carlson are hardly the primary large names in information to lose their jobs.
If historical past is any indication, we’ll see, or hear, extra from these two sooner or later. When previous scandals throughout information networks, outstanding on-air anchors and hosts, for essentially the most half, have landed on their ft. Listed here are how 5 of the most important shakeups over the previous decade panned out.
Invoice O’Reilly
The political commentator, as soon as the top-rated host in cable information, was compelled out of Fox Information in 2017 after an inner investigation corroborated a number of alleged sexual-harassment allegations. The O’Reilly Issue anchor referred to as the claims “unfounded.” The gorgeous transfer got here months after a sexual-harassment scandal led to the ouster of former Fox Information Chairman Roger E. Ailes. O’Reilly was dropped by each his expertise and literary brokers within the wake of the scandal. Within the six years since his firing, O’Reilly launched his personal radio present, No Spin Information, and now commonly seems on NewsNation with Chris Cuomo.
Chris Cuomo
In 2021, CNN’s primetime star was suspended, after which fired, for aiding his brother, Andrew Cuomo, amid the previous New York governor’s sexual-harassment scandal. Chris Cuomo was additionally accused of sexual misconduct, an allegation he denied. It did not take lengthy for the previous Cuomo Prime Time host to search out one other gig. He now anchors Cuomo on NewsNation, “a no-nonsense present that includes the day’s most essential information from all views.” He additionally has a podcast, The Chris Cuomo Tasks.
Brian Williams
The journalist was NBC Information’s high anchor from 2004 to 2015, however was abruptly suspended with out pay from Nightly Information after it was decided he falsely claimed he’d been in a helicopter that was hit by enemy fireplace within the Iraq Warfare. Regardless of an enormous repetitional hit, Williams caught round as he ultimately moved to MSNBC the place he launched The eleventh Hour. In 2021, Williams introduced he was leaving after 28 years to “spend time along with his household.”
Matt Lauer
Because the #MeToo motion swept by way of the trade in 2017, NBC fired the longtime At the moment present host following allegations of sexual misconduct within the office. Lauer initially stayed silent, however spoke out two years later to refute a selected declare that he raped a former co-worker. Lauer stated he and the girl had a “consensual” affair. He has not labored in media for the reason that scandal.
Megyn Kelly
When Kelly departed Fox, she was excited to depart the “snake pit” of primetime information. In 2017, the conservative journalist landed a daytime slot at NBC with Megyn Kelly At the moment — however her time there was short-lived. The present was canceled one yr later after Kelly made controversial remarks about blackface and Halloween costumes. Kelly settled with NBC for a multimillion greenback sum and ultimately bought again to work. Kelly hosts a chat present and podcast, The Megyn Kelly Present, on SiriusXM and YouTube.
Carlson and Lemon are barely totally different circumstances, although.
No official purpose was given as to why the 2 had been let go, however various narratives have begun to emerge within the press.
“There’s much less of a selected anchor to the oustings of Carlson and Lemon, however that does not make them much less fascinating,” Allison Butler, media critic and senior lecturer at College of Massachusetts Amherst, explains to Yahoo Leisure. “Lauer, O’Reilly and Cuomo had been all a part of the #MeToo motion and a pushback towards male bullies within the office. Carlson has but to have the allegations of a unstable office be formally confirmed.”
Two lawsuits hover over Carlson’s termination. His firing comes days after Fox Information’s hefty $787.5 million settlement settlement with Dominion Voting Techniques. A few of Carlson’s headline-grabbing textual content messages had been launched as a part of the dispute, however there have been additionally ton of redacted correspondence from the commentator that, whereas they weren’t made public, had been seen by Fox’s high executives. Clearly, somebody excessive up wasn’t completely happy — and that individual was reportedly Fox Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch. The Los Angeles Occasions reviews the choice was additionally associated to a discrimination lawsuit filed by former Tucker Carlson Tonight booker, Abby Grossberg.
“One presumes that the behind-the-scenes calculations at Fox noticed that he would show to be too harmful or too embarrassing to maintain round, regardless of his rankings. Parting methods at this level could save Fox from future embarrassment whereas concurrently, due to his recognition, units Carlson up for future work,” Butler continues. “It is a win-win for each community and particular person.”
(In the meantime, Vainness Honest, citing an unnamed supply, instructed in a report launched Tuesday that Murdoch was upset by “excessive” non secular views espoused by Carlson in a speech to the Heritage Basis on Friday, the day his closing present aired. Carlson denounced these calling for LGBTQ rights and DEI applications and stated America wanted extra prayer. “That stuff freaks Rupert out. He does not like all of the religious speak,” the supply informed Vainness Honest.)
As for Lemon, he has been in scorching water for months as a result of misogynistic feedback on air. A current exposé additionally highlighted alleged sexist habits off digital camera, which he denied.
“Lemon fumbled an awesome deal and made totally silly statements, however once more, there isn’t a singular purpose for his ousting. His statements towards ladies had been insulting, but additionally completely unoriginal; ladies have been listening to misogynistic claims about their price and have been on the receiving finish of pretend apologies for generations,” Butler provides.
“Carlson shall be high-quality and can land quickly.”
Butler, co-author of The Media and Me: A Information to Important Media Literacy for Younger Individuals, believes “so long as [Carlson] stays unstable, he shall be professionally high-quality.”
“He has fomented sufficient divisiveness that he can both begin his personal platform or be employed by essentially the most right-wing conservative department of the media and be the star participant. He not must be a centerpiece in a crowded discipline; he might be the centerpiece,” she explains. “Carlson is laser-focused in his messaging, stays on-brand, and infrequently strays from his core efficiency. This can make him a simple rent.”
Mark Feldstein, professor on the College of Maryland’s Philip Merrill Faculty of Journalism, believes Carlson has extra of a chance than a few of his Fox Information predecessors, however says he will not wield the identical energy as one week in the past.
“Not one of the anchors at Fox who had been [let go] in shame have rehabilitated themselves. Not Invoice O’Reilly, Glenn Beck, Lou Dobbs — none of them have had the identical type of affect that they did. Fox is the star, actually, not any of the hosts who briefly suppose they’re stars,” Feldstein tells Yahoo.
“That stated, Carlson’s contacts inside the right-wing political area may bounce in some unusual methods if he finally ends up working [for office]. There’s some unusual methods he may bounce, however I do not suppose he’ll ever have the identical type of clout he did when Fox Information was his megaphone,” he concludes.
“I may see Lemon ending up at Fox.”
Feldstein, who spent 20 years as an on-air investigative correspondent at networks together with CNN and ABC Information, makes a shocking prediction a few potential touchdown spot for Lemon.
“I may see Lemon ending up at Fox as their token liberal who the remainder of the conservatives get to beat on like they did Alan Colmes again within the day,” Feldstein provides. (Colmes was the liberal counterpart to Sean Hannity as the 2 hosted Hannity & Colmes from 1994 to 2008.) Feldstein says each Fox and Lemon might be within the transfer “simply to type of stick a finger in CNN’s eye.”
“I do not know if that can occur. I do not suppose another main information community will contact [Lemon],” he provides.
Butler agrees that Lemon is “extra of a threat,” including that Carlson is probably going a “totally different case.”
“[Lemon’s] has fumbled so many occasions and spoken so problematically, he’ll must be re-branded earlier than he strikes again into the highlight. The ‘sensitivity coaching’ from February could snowball right into a public self-reckoning which can be introduced through talking engagements or a e book deal, which is able to launch the following section of his profession,” she speculates.
“I feel that is completely not the final we’ll see or hear of both of them. However I do suppose we’ll hear and see Carlson extra prominently earlier than we’ll hear about or from Lemon,” Butler says.
