Former Fox News contributor and Sirius XM host Megyn Kelly accused senior executives at Fox News of leaking negative information about Tucker Carlson to diminish his chances of being picked up by a rival news platform and taking his large audience with him.
Kelly began a recent podcast by noting that viewership at Fox News in Tucker Carlson’s prime time slot is down about 50% since the network fired their No. 1 host. Fox has dropped out of the No. 1 position for the first time in years.
The XM host speculates that Fox News executives are in damage control mode and are now attempting to smear their former employee in an attempt to stem the hemorrhaging of viewers. Kelly charges the network of leaking “out of context, slanderous background information about Tucker Carlson to corporate media outlets.”
According to the Daily Caller, “rumors” are swirling that “senior officials at Fox News have leaked information about Carlson to Media Matters and The New York Times.”
Kelly speculated that Fox News Senior Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications Irena Briganti is “leaking” the out-of-context video clips and private text messages to left-leaning media outlets.
Briganti has denied Kelly’s accusations.
Kelly charged: “Two videos were released, oh, by whomever could it be — Irena — to The New York Times saying, in one, he called a woman ‘yummy,’ we have zero idea the context. Could’ve been his wife for all I know. … Zero idea. And one, he said something like, ‘Will my post-menopausal audience still find me attractive in this outfit.'”
Kelly minced no words in accusing Fox executives of misconduct: “Nice try, Fox. But, you tried and failed. So they first leaked to The New York Times, this is my supposition for the record because it hasn’t been yet been confirmed, but I know it’s them.”
Megyn continued: “And I know it’s Irena Briganti who runs comms and … hates Tucker … she hates his guts. And it’s mutual. He doesn’t like her either. None of us do. Nobody likes Irena.”
Kelly noted that Carlson may sign on with Newsmax, a move that would be devastating to Fox.
The Daily Caller reported that Briganti responded to Kelly’s charge by calling it “false and an outright lie.”
Video clips show Carlson making off-the-air negative remarks about various aspects of the Fox News network, including technical aspects of the platform and demands regarding his attire for certain segments he hosted.
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