Two of America’s finest recognized TV stars had been all of the sudden lower unfastened by their networks in a single day, sending shockwaves by means of the nation’s media business.
Tucker Carlson, whose nightly opinion program on Fox News incessantly pulled within the highest scores in cable news, is leaving the community with out a farewell present. His closing broadcast was on Friday night time.
“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,” the community mentioned in a press release at about noon, New York time.
“Mr Carlson’s last program was Friday April 21. Fox News Tonight will air live at 8pm starting this evening as an interim show helmed by rotating Fox News personalities until a new host is named.”
Roughly an hour later, CNN chairman and CEO Chris Licht despatched a memo to his colleagues revealing the departure of Don Lemon, a longtime host with the community who most just lately featured on its revamped morning present CNN This Morning.
“CNN and Don have parted ways. Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the last 17 years. We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavours,” mentioned Mr Licht.
“CNN This Morning has been on the air for nearly six months, and we are committed to its success.”
There was nothing in his assertion about discovering a alternative for Lemon. The morning present had been working with three hosts: Lemon, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlin Collins.
In a press release posted on social media, Lemon indicated he had not been warned of his impending exit.
“I was informed by this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN. I am stunned,” he mentioned.
“After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly. At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue doing the work I have loved at the network.
“It is clear that there are some larger issues at play. With that said, I want to thank my colleagues and the many teams I have worked with for an incredible run. They are the most talented journalists in the business, and I wish them all the best.”
CNN’s public relations division then issued a response, disputing Lemon’s model of occasions: “Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”
The back-to-back shocks of Carlson and Lemon’s exits got here a day after one other media bigwig, NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell, was compelled out over an inappropriate relationship with a feminine news anchor.
Shell revealed he was resigning in a memo to workers on Sunday, admitting to the improper relationship, although the girl concerned was not recognized.
“Today is my last day as CEO of NBCUniversal,” mentioned Shell.
“I had an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the company, which I deeply regret.
“I’m truly sorry I let my Comcast and NBCUniversal colleagues down, they are the most talented people in the business and the opportunity to work with them the last 19 years has been a privilege.”
Shell is married. His affair was uncovered throughout an investigation by an outdoor regulation agency in response to a grievance made towards him.
Deadline has subsequently revealed that the girl concerned is Hadley Gamble, a CNBC TV anchor and achieved worldwide correspondent. In her function with the documentary sequence Access: Middle East, she has interviewed a number of senior world figures. Notably, she was additionally the final Western journalist to interview Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier than he invaded Ukraine in early 2022.
At the time, Russian state media figures crassly (and absurdly) accused her of making an attempt to distract Putin along with her “sex appeal” and “positioning herself as a sexual object”.
“Hadley is a passionate advocate for women in the workplace and their advancement around the world,” her CNBC profile reads.
“She moderated the first ever women’s business forum in Saudi Arabia and provided exclusive content to CNBC as the Kingdom lifted its decades-old driving ban.”
Shell and Gamble reportedly had a sporadic relationship, which began about 11 years in the past and ended a few years in the past. Deadline stories e mail communications between the pair got here to mild in the course of the exterior regulation agency’s investigation.
“You should count on your leaders to create a safe and respectful workplace,” the CEO and President of NBCUniversal’s mother or father firm, Comcast, wrote in a memo to workers.
“When our principles and policies are violated, we will always move quickly to take the appropriate action, as we have done here.”
Originally printed as Tucker Carlson, Don Lemon ditched by Fox News and CNN inside an hour of one another in gorgeous day for US media
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
