The text message that got Tucker Carlson fired

Tucker Carlson has been with Fox News since 2009 but left the network last week. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Tucker Carlson, US news anchor, said “white people don't fight” while describing a street clash between “Trump boys” and anti-fascists in a private text message that reportedly led to it dismissal.

Fox board members read the 53-year-old Carlson's message ahead of a major defamation trial against the network, according to The New York Times.

Hours after Donald Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 2021, Mr. Carlson texted his producer stating that he had recently watched a video in which a “group of Trump guys” surrounded what he called an “Antifa kid” and started beating him up. up.

“At least three to one,” he said in a report published in The New York Times.

“Jumping with a guy like that is obviously dishonorable,” Mr. Carlson wrote. “That's not how white people fight.”

A long chain of fears

In the post, a right-wing journalist said he momentarily found himself “rooting for the mafia against the man”, hoping they would “hit him harder, kill him '.

He indicated that he was experiencing conflicting emotions: “I really wanted them to hurt the child. I could try this. Then, somewhere deep in my brain, an alarm went off: this is not good for me.”

The message added to a long chain of concerns about Mr. Carlson at Fox that led to his eventual dismissal. The New York Times reported that those with knowledge of the decision said this.

The text message influenced Fox's decision to settle

Board members were reportedly concerned that the message would become public when Mr. Carlson will be on the podium. in court and that it could raise wider questions about Fox.

Mr Carlson, who has been with Fox News since 2009, left the network last week shortly after the network paid $787 million ( £629 million). to settle a defamation lawsuit filed by voting machine company Dominion.

The New York Times reported that the report of the fight influenced Fox's decision to settle with Dominion – the highest known payout in a defamation case.

Both Fox News and Tucker Carlson reached out for comment.