Featured Image Credit: CNN
Topics: Tucker Carlson, Film and TV
Callum Jones
Tucker Carlson has not been out of the news this week, as he left Fox News after 14 years at the company.
The news came as a bit of surprise to many, despite all the controversial statements the TV presenter has said in his time.
In a statement confirming his departure, Fox said: "We thank him for his service as a host and prior to that as a contributor. Mr Carlson’s last programme was Friday April 21st.
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"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."
While Carlson is certainly infamous for his outspoken views and controversial statements on Fox, he actually did appear on rival network CNN beforehand.
Yep, Carlson actually had a decent stint at CNN, something many Gen Zs are unaware of as it was certainly before their time.
The media personality actually co-hosted the CNN show Crossfire, which began in 2001.
As you'd expect from a Carlson show, Crossfire was a political debate-styled program that would have special guests on.
Typically, as was the case with Carlson at Fox, it would involve a guest disagreeing with the presenter's political stance, and a lot of heated debates taking place.
Crossfire was actually cancelled in 2005 because of one of those heated debates, which saw comedian Jon Stewart call him a 'dick'.
After a rather heated disagreement, Carlson told Stewart: "I do think you're more fun on your show, just my opinion."
Back then, Carlson was referring to Stewart hosting Comedy Central's The Daily Show, which went on to be hosted by Trevor Noah until his departure last year.
Carlson's comment clearly hit a nerve, as Stewart quickly replied: "You know what's interesting though? You're as big a dick on your show as you are on any show."
"Now you're getting into it, I like that," Carlson jokingly replied.
Before that squabble, Stewart made his views on the show pretty clear, as he said that putting liberal and conservative pundits against each other was harmful to the US.
Stewart told Carlson and fellow host Paul Begala: "I made a special effort to come on the show today because I have privately, among my friends and also in occasional newspapers and television shows, mentioned this show as being bad.
"And I wanted to, I felt that that wasn't fair, and I should come here and tell you that I don't, it's not so much that it's bad as it's hurting America."