Tucker Carlson was let go from Fox News in April 2023 largely due to internal concerns about his off-air behavior, private messages, and the potential legal and reputational risks he posed to the network. His departure was decided by Fox Corp. leadership, including Rupert Murdoch and Suzanne Scott. Factors contributing to this decision included controversial and racially charged private texts revealed during a high-profile defamation lawsuit involving Fox, his contentious influence on the network's editorial direction, and fear his conduct could cause irreparable harm amid legal scrutiny. Fox News aimed to distance itself from the controversies surrounding Carlson, especially in the wake of settling a $787.5 million defamation lawsuit related to election fraud claims. Carlson's firing was also said to be linked to his perceived arrogance and behaving as if he was bigger than the network itself, creating internal conflicts at Fox.