In what surely didn’t come as a surprise to many, Fox News host Tucker Carlson was recorded making misogynistic remarks about women, making light of statutory rape, using the c-word, and just general horribleness in unearthed audio footage. The comments were made between 2006 and 2011 to Florida shock jock “Bubba the Love Sponge” (of the Hulk Hogan/Gawker sex tape fame) and picked up by Media Matters For America, which quickly went viral on Sunday evening:
Carlson, who was hired by Fox News in 2009, also used sexist language to talk about women, including then-co-workers at NBC and public figures. He referred to Martha Stewart’s daughter Alexis Stewart as “cunty,” called journalist Arianna Huffington a “pig,” and labeled Britney Spears and Paris Hilton “the biggest white whores in America.” He also said that women enjoy being told to “be quiet and kind of do what you’re told” and that they are “extremely primitive.”
Carlson’s comments are naturally not going over super well, especially when you consider the fact that he called for Samantha Bee to lose her show when she used the same c-word in regards to Ivanka Trump last year. In his typical style, Carlson offered a non-apology apology, chalking the incident up as being caught “saying something naughty on a radio show more than a decade ago.”
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) March 11, 2019
But considering the fact that just days before, Carlson called out Joe Biden on his show for something he said in 1975, people weren’t buying it. Not to mention when you factor in the sheer severity of the misogyny, people are calling for the slack-jawed host’s immediate firing on Twitter with the hashtag #FireTuckerCarlson, in addition to threats of boycotting his sponsors.
No big surprises here. A huge chunk of what passes for "conservatism" is just raw and unmitigated contempt for women, dressed up as an ideology or philosophy we're supposed to take seriously#FireTuckerCarlson
— Alex Sayf Cummings🌹 (@akbarjenkins) March 11, 2019
Tucker Carlson is what happens when rich white male privilege goes unchecked forever #hack #FireTuckerCarlson https://t.co/12f6NnkmQ9
— (((Tara Dublin))), Rock Star Author 📚❤️🔥🤘🏻 (@taradublinrocks) March 11, 2019
Imagine major corporations advertising on the show of a guy this blatantly misogynistic… @JennyCraig – how ugly does Tucker have to get before you cut ties with him? https://t.co/V2LBAZo1TG
— Warren Leight (@warrenleightTV) March 11, 2019
No, jackass. Power & wealth used to cover-up past atrocities/crimes/indiscretions is NOT how one "handles" anything! It is how one politically whitewashes the pure evil that lives in one's heart.#FireTuckerCarlson #ImpeachTrump #IndictDonJr https://t.co/wHCoIPfBeo
— Morgan J. Freeman (@mjfree) March 11, 2019
Tucker Carlson used the c-word, said women are ‘primitive’ and ‘like dogs,’ bashed SCOTUS justice Elena Kagan for being ugly, and joked about a 13-year-old being molested pic.twitter.com/xa8iI2Oyge #FireTuckerCarlson #mondaymotivation #mondaymorning #mondaythoughts
— Holly Figueroa O'Reilly 🌸 (@AynRandPaulRyan) March 11, 2019
#BoycottTuckerCarlson is trending. That's like telling me to give up eating live scorpions for Lent.
— Michael (@Schmutzie_) March 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/VictoriaC_423/status/1105071144493821953
The almighty dollar still matters most in America, and a majority of women control household spending. Let’s show them who’s really in charge and what we WON’T TOLERATE. #BoycottTuckerCarlson #FireTuckerCarlson
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) March 11, 2019
I’d boycott #TuckerCarlson, but I already knew he was a POS.
So, I’m boycotting his advertisers instead. @Outback@Progressive@CapitalOne@mitsucars@LibertyMutual@SonyPictures@Samsung @sleepnumber @Ford@Allstate@LincolnMotorCo@ProcterGamble #BoycottTuckerCarlson pic.twitter.com/nUZPvuezWZ
— CK (@charley_ck14) March 11, 2019
Any companies who are STILL on the fence about running their ads on #TuckerCarlsonTonight do NOT want/need my money.
He's defended child rape.
That's ALL I need to know. If you're running ads on his show, then you support child rape as well.#FireTuckerCarlson
— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) March 11, 2019
On Friday, my teenaged daughter’s and I were celebrating the strength and empowerment of #InternationWomensDay. And just a few days later, we’re suckerpunched into a harsh reminder of how far women still have to go.
Words matter. Standards matter. #FireTuckerCarlson https://t.co/JZ2Km6SgI3
— tracy (@trapqueentracy) March 11, 2019
Fox News has yet to comment, but in today’s sociopolitical climate, careers have been derailed over less. Meanwhile, Media Matters is teasing even more audio footage that allegedly includes Carlson’s reprehensible remarks related to race and ethnicity.
“The other material is similarly vile,” company chief Angelo Carusone told TheWrap on Monday. “The next one will help give some additional insight into Tucker’s worldview vis-a-vis race and ethnicity.”
In response to this and other recent controversies, Fox News is holding an emergency meeting this Wednesday, March 13, in an effort to appeal advertisers not to boycott. As a result, a grassroots Drop Fox protest is being organized to “send a clear message to media buyers that Fox News’ toxicity is bad for business.”