OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Former Fox News star and current SiriusXM podcast host Megyn Kelly believes her former employer is attempting to sabotage Tucker Carlson after the network took him off the air last week.
What’s more, she thinks she knows who’s behind it.
Kelly made her remarks on her program this week after a video clip of Carlson appearing to trash Fox’s streaming service, Fox Nation, during a phone call with a potential guest. The clip was leaked to Media Matters for America, a far-left site.
Carlson remarked that “nobody watches Fox Nation because the site sucks,” adding, “I’m just frustrated with it. It’s hard to use that site. I don’t know why they’re not fixing it. It’s driving me insane.”
Another clip that put Carlson in a bad light was leaked to the liberal-leaning New York Times.
On Monday during her program, Kelly suggested that Irena Briganti, Fox’s senior executive vice president for corporate communications, was behind the leaks.
“So [Fox News] first leaked to the New York Times,” Kelly said while she interviewed Libs of TikTok founder Chaya Raichik.
“This is my supposition for the record because it hasn’t been yet confirmed, but I know it is. And I know it’s Irena Briganti who runs comms and f***ing hates Tucker. Sorry. She hates his guts,” Kelly added, noting futher that it’s “mutual” for Carlson.
“He doesn’t like her either,” she said. “None of us do. Nobody likes Irena.”
Why is FOX leaking private recordings of @TuckerCarlson to left wing Media Matters??
People are saying this is coming from Fox’s head of PR Irena Briganti.
FOX is being destroyed! pic.twitter.com/TzV4nnpAKR
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) May 1, 2023
WATCH:
Meanwhile, according to the Western Journal, a spokesperson for Fox News called her theory “completely false and an outright lie.”
However, Kelly continued, suggesting that Fox News is prepared to do whatever it takes to prevent Carlson from taking his audience with him to a rival network like Newsmax.
“This is all an orchestrated hit job, in my opinion, and it’s not a subtle one,” she said, noting further that Fox’s efforts are likely falling short. “Nice try, Fox!”
According to a report by Rolling Stone last week in the wake of Carlson’s firing, the network’s brass has amassed a secret “oppo file” of dirt on Carlson that it plans to use if he attempts to take any action against the network.
The report cited eight individuals at Fox News who claimed to have knowledge of a data file that could be utilized to tarnish Carlson’s reputation in case the network believed he had crossed a certain line.
In a statement announcing Fox News’ decision to cut ties with Carlson, the outlet said: “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.”
It added: “Mr. Carlson’s last program was Friday, April 21st.”
The first name to appear below the published statement was Briganti. According to Rolling Stone, the “notoriously aggressive” Briganti has kept “oppo files” on talent and contributors for quite some time.
Initial reports indicated that the break-up was amicable and mutual, but Rolling Stone reports otherwise, claiming that a source says Carlson left on “the worst” and “messiest possible terms.”
“Eight people familiar with the situation tell Rolling Stone that Fox News and its communications department — long led by the notoriously aggressive Irena Briganti — has assembled damaging information about Carlson,” Rolling Stone reported.
“One source with knowledge calls it an ‘oppo file.’ Two sources add that Fox is prepared to disclose some of its contents if execs suspect that Carlson is coming after the network,” the report continued. “The file includes internal complaints regarding workplace conduct, disparaging comments about management and colleagues, and allegations that the now-former prime-time host created a toxic work environment, three of the sources say.”
Carlson was fired from Fox just a few hours before long-time host Don Lemon was let go by CNN after a tumultuous tenure there. Both have retained high-power industry legal representation from Bryan Freedman, which may be an indication of action against both networks.
