Tucker Carlson is out at Fox News – and the reason for his abrupt firing remains shrouded in mystery.

He rose through the ranks at Rupert Murdoch‘s news station to become one of the highest-rated anchors on cable TV – but was suddenly forced out Monday after a sterling 14 years.

While the stint was largely successful – with Carlson now one of the key faces of Republican politics thanks to Trump’s presidential win – it was also riddled with controversy, thanks to the 53-year-old’s opinionated, and oft-polarizing, commentary.

For six years, the native Californian pushed anti-vaccine claims and other fringe ideas that would land him in hot water on more than one occasion – with two theories in particular potentially playing a part in his recent ouster.

One involves a former top booker for Carlson’s old primetime show – who has sued Carlson and Fox for sexual harassment and other alleged wrongdoings – and a since settled defamation suit filed by Dominion Voting Systems.

Another likely influencer is the fact that Rupert Murdoch is reportedly mulling a sale of Fox – and feels the network is more attractive to buyers without Carlson. Here are some lingering questions surrounding his nixing – and who might replace him.

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While successful, Tucker Carlson’s six years on primetime was riddled with controversy, and his polarizing reporting – as well as two recent suits – likely played a part in his ouster. He is seen here signing off from his final show Friday, unaware he would be axed by next week

One involves a former top booker for Carlson’s old primetime show, Abby Grossberg – who has sued Carlson and Fox for sexual harassment and other alleged wrongdoings – and a since settled suit filed by Dominion Voting Systems. Also playing a part is that Rupert Murdoch is mulling a sale of Fox News, and feels the network is more attractive to buyers without Carlson

Did last week’s $787million settlement play a part?

Carlson’s ouster came days after Fox were forced the fork over a historic $787million settlement to a voting hardware firm over claims the anchor and other network hosts spread lies about its machines during the 2020 election.

The suit was filed back in March 2021 – at the height of Carlson’s success – and specifically singled out statements made on air by the TV talker, as well as Sean Hannity, Lou Dobbs, Jeanine Pirro and Maria Bartiromo. 

During discovery for the case, multiple text messages sent by Carlson to colleagues over the course of the 2020 election were made public, reportedly embarrassing the network to no end

Sent to colleagues such as Laura Ingraham, they revealed how Carlson secretly despised Donald Trump behind the scenes – despite praising the then-president, whose win helped propel his success, in public. 

One sent on November 5 of that year – days after Joe Biden was declared victorious  – seemed to show Carlson realizing a Trump loss could spell trouble for the network, given how heavily he had leaned on the politician over the past several years.

 ‘He could easily destroy us if we play it wrong,’ Carlson wrote about Trump in one of many startling text messages obtained by the voting firm – which claimed in court that the correspondence served as proof he knowingly spreading false information. 

On November 17, Carlson griped about attorney and frequent Fox guest Sidney Powell for pushing the voter fraud conspiracy – despite seemingly agreeing with the theory himself several times on the air.

Among discovery submitted before the trial were text messages in which Carlson described his ‘passionate’ hatred of President Trump

‘Sidney Powell is lying. F***ing bitch,’ he wrote.

A day later, in a message to Ingraham, Carlson elaborated, ‘Sidney Powell is lying by the way. I caught her. It’s insane.’

Then, after the insurrection on January 6, Carlson took aim at the ex-president himself, saying he could not wait for him to be out of office – and more importantly, out of news headlines

‘We are very close to being able to ignore Trump most nights,’ Carlson wrote in one message. ‘I truly can’t wait.’

He added: ‘I hate him passionately.’

The messages, attorneys hired by the Toronto based voting firm said, served as proof that Carlson and others knowingly spread false information that their machines played a part in Biden’s win.

After a jury was selected, and after Fox had promised a high-powered, bitter court battle, the network inexplicably backed down, agreeing to fork over the largest civil settlement in history.

The move puzzled many who thought Fox would never have backed down from a fight when it came to their lucrative golden boy.

That said, while the network avoided a potentially embarrassing court battle thanks to the settlement – one suit remains open.

Filed last month by Abby Grossberg, a former booking producer who worked on both Maria Bartiromo’s show as well as Carlson’s, it accuses Fox of coercing her to give false testimony in the Dominion case – and Carlson of sexually harassing her. 

Was Abby Grossberg’s suit the tipping point? 

Producer Abby Grossberg filed a lawsuit against Fox that detailed claims about Carlson’s show. The suit is said to have been the last straw for the network, following multiple controversies involving Carlson

Grossberg claimed in court documents that she was ‘coerced, intimidated, and misinformed’ while preparing for her deposition in the $1.6 billion Dominion defamation case. 

The also alleges that she was subject to bullying, sexism and anti-Semitism – as well as ‘derogatory’ remarks about News Corp executives from Carlson directly – while working under the talking head.

Most of the allegations are not against Carlson but rather his senior staff – and, according to those familiar with the matter, is said to have sent Rupert Murdoch over the edge.

The lawsuit says however that he fostered an environment where ‘unprofessionalism reigned supreme, and the staff’s distaste and disdain for women infiltrated almost every workday decision.’

She claims she was personally subjected to anti-Semitism by Alexander McCaskill, a senior producer, because he installed a ‘preposterous Christmas’ display in the booking area despite knowing she was Jewish, along with a sign that read ‘Hanukah bush’ which she took as a personal insult. 

McCaskill, according to the lawsuit, also tormented another Jewish employee for buying lunch from Breads Bakery, which Grossberg claims he called the ‘Jew bakery’.  

She alleges in a 79-page discrimination claim that while deciding the framework of Carlson’s primetime show, producers including Justin Wells – Carlson’s senior executive producer who also left Fox yesterday – chose female guests based on their appearance and made inappropriate remarks about women colleagues. 

Carlson’s firing was a direct order from Rupert Murdoch, according to sources cited yesterday by The Los Angeles Times, and was executed by Lachlan Murdoch

Other sensational claims further embarrassing Murdoch’s crown jewel said the station’s office in Midtown Manhattan was ‘plastered’ with photoshopped images of Nancy Pelosi in a revealing bathing suit, an  a ‘crass and sexist discussion’ about whether a Michigan Governor  was ‘hotter or more f****ble’ than her Republican rival.

The Los Angeles Times reported  that Grossberg’s claims, rather than the Dominion revelations, served as the primary influencer in Carlson’s termination, as his longtime boss is rumored to be mulling a potential sale of Fox while ratings are high.

Sources who spoke to the Wall Street Journal further posited that Carlson was ousted in part because executives were angry at the bitter criticisms laid bare by the Grossman suit.

Fox has issued the following statement in regard to the ongoing suit: ‘FOX News engaged an independent outside counsel to immediately investigate the concerns raised by Ms. Grossberg, which were made following a critical performance review. 

‘Her allegations in connection with the Dominion case are baseless and we will continue to vigorously defend Fox against her unmeritorious legal claims which are riddled with false allegations against the network and our employees.’

When did Fox lose faith in its golden boy?

Carlson’s firing was a direct order from Rupert Murdoch, according to sources cited yesterday by The Los Angeles Times, and was executed by his son, Lachlan. 

A Fox News source told DailyMail.com: ‘Tucker still hasn’t been given any indication of why he was taken off the air. His producer Justin Wells was ousted too.

‘We believe Rupert wants to sell the company and it’s harder to find an institutional buyer with Tucker as the main star. Tucker gone makes it more of an appealing media company to buy.’

Fox, however, did not give any reason for the departure of their most-watched news anchor, saying on Monday: ‘Fox News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways.

‘We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor.’

That said, Carlson was completely left in the dark about his boss’ diminishing faith, and only found out Monday morning.

During his sign-off for what would end up being his last show, he told fans that he looked forward to Monday’s show.

‘What a great way to the end the week,’ Carlson said after eating pizza with with a Pennsylvania delivery driver who aided police in the arrest of a  suspected carjacker.

‘We’ll be back on Monday — in the meantime have the best weekend with the ones you love. See you then!’

What will become of Carlson’s vacant primetime slot?

With his shock exit from Fox News on Monday, Tucker Carlson becomes the hottest free agent in cable news.

With his shock exit, and after bringing the network great numbers after replacing longtime fixture Bill O’Reilly after his own sexual harassment scandal – has become the hottest free agent in cable news.

But what will become of the hallowed primetime spot he leaves behind?

Not much is known about a potential replacement for the highest-rated host in prime time – though Fox has already found success with Greg Gutfeld, the host of their also highly rated late-night comedy show, Gutfeld! 

Not much is known about a potential replacement for the highest-rated host in prime time – though Fox has already found success with Greg Gutfeld, the host of their also highly rated late-night comedy show, Gutfeld! 

As other struggling late night programs welcome guests such Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Nancy Pelosi, Fox’s Gutfeld has meanwhile emerged as the King of late-night, and seems to be the obvious choice to take on the mantle.

Fox could also bring in new talent, though an announcement has yet to be made. 

According to Nielsen Media Research, while Tucker Carlson Tonight was the top-cable news show for the the month of March – it has actually been no. 2 in cable news for the past six consecutive quarters, behind FOX News The Five.

That show also features Gutfeld as a host, as well as other potential candidates Dana Perino, Jesse Watters, Jeanine Pirro. Rotating hosts include Jessica Tarlov, Geraldo Rivera and Harold Ford Jr.