Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson made a surprise announcement Tuesday that he would be launching a new show on Twitter, signaling a breakdown in talks to reach a severance agreement with the network, where he is still under contract.
In a three-minute monologue delivered directly to camera on Twitter, Carlson announced, “We’re back,” but gave no details about the content, format or release date of his new program.
We’re back. pic.twitter.com/sG5t9gr60O
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) May 9, 2023
It’s also unclear whether Twitter CEO Elon Musk has any role in the production of the show or whether Carlson will be compensated for his work, but Musk was quick to clarify their relationship.
In response to Carlson’s tweet, Elon Musk said that “we haven’t signed any kind of deal,” implying that the two have yet to reach an agreement. Elon Musk called Carlson’s tweet “misleading”. Said and clarified that Carlson will be just a content creator on the platform.
On this platform, unlike the one-way street of broadcast, people are able to interact, critique and refute whatever is said.
And, of course, anything misleading will get @CommunityNotes.
I also want to be clear that we have not signed a deal of any kind whatsoever. Tucker is… https://t.co/0TMjuYnKUp
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 9, 2023
Tucker is subject to the same rules [and] rewards as all content creators, Rewards means subscription and advertising revenue share, which is a function of how many people subscribe and the ad views associated with the content.
If you’re pissed off that Elon Musk is hosting Tucker Carlson on Twitter, please take a few minutes to block Twitter’s advertisers. It’s a small but meaningful statement.
— Mark Jacob (@MarkJacob16) May 9, 2023
Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson are really going after the coveted “incel with disposable income” demographic.
— Rex Huppke (@RexHuppke) May 9, 2023
Carlson, who demonizes the media in this video & accuses journalists of excluding facts that detract from their narratives, does not mention Musk has himself censored speech on Twitter while asserting the site is the last remaining free speech platform. Weird how that works!
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) May 9, 2023
Is it good Tucker Carlson is moving his show to Twitter? It’s good for Musk & his rising debts. It’s bad for the banks underwriting his debt, however, as this will radicalize viewers more. Twitter is becoming the go-to platform tolerant of & incentivizing hyper-partisan rhetoric.
— Nora Benavidez (@AttorneyNora) May 9, 2023
Musk is already backtracking on a deal with Tucker Carlson. I wonder what Rupert Murdoch has on him. pic.twitter.com/oqZY6cq5Ei
— Alejandra Caraballo (@Esqueer_) May 10, 2023
Tucker is rebooting his image and wants you to believe that after a career of punditry and misleading and confusing people under the guise of entertainment—that was laundered via soundbites into fake news cycles—he’s suddenly a beacon of truth and the world’s most ethical newsman
— Luke Zaleski (@ZaleskiLuke) May 9, 2023
Musk and Carlson will be buddy-buddy for approximately 10 days and then screech at each other like enraged spider monkeys and every adult bedwetter who loves The Turner Diaries will be forced to choose sides and it’s going to be fantastic, just fantastic. Can’t wait. https://t.co/Y0JLb3vqe7
— Ed Burmila (@edburmila) May 9, 2023
MUSK: “Hey, we need advertisers!”
CORPS: “Twitter’s brand is toxic due to the rise of white supremacist content.”
MUSK: “Ladies and gentlemen, here’s Tucker Carlson!”
CORPS: 👋🌬️⏩
— StrictlyChristo 🇺🇦🌻 (@StrictlyChristo) May 9, 2023
I hope many others, especially those on the left, would also like to become content creators on this platform. Where Carlson was previously a prime-time host, he has the power to block any attempts to return to the network, and it is uncertain whether his contract with Fox allows him to host a show on an alternative platform. .
Musk has been advocating for content creators to adopt Twitter as their sole distribution channel, and the platform recently unveiled subscription functions aimed at generating substantial revenue while reducing reliance on advertising.