‘Fire Tucker Carlson’: Fox News Host Condemned for Comments on Deadly Shooting of Kenosha Protesters

Jordan Moreau

August 26, 2020 at 11:11 PM·4 min read

Fox News host Tucker Carlson received immediate backlash on Twitter after saying Kyle Rittenhouse, who was arrested and charged with first-degree intentional homicide for the shootings of two protesters in Kenosha, Wis., “decided to maintain order when no one else would.”

“Are we really surprised this looting and arson accelerated to murder? How shocked are we that 17-year-olds with rifles decided they had to maintain order when no one else would? Everyone can see what was happening in Kenosha. It was getting crazier by the hour,” Carlson said on his show.

Video from Carlson’s Wednesday night Fox News broadcast went viral on Twitter, with many people speaking out against his comments and saying he should be fired.

Billy Eichner, Ike Barinholtz and Julie Klausner were among the entertainment-industry figures calling for Carlson to be fired.

Fire @TuckerCarlson https://t.co/Rt1YOzXVf1
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) August 27, 2020

FIRE @TuckerCarlson https://t.co/j2HUO23pHt
— Ike Barinholtz (@ikebarinholtz) August 27, 2020

Fire @TuckerCarlson https://t.co/8yMOsjw9Pn
— Julie Klausner (@julieklausner) August 27, 2020

John Cusack and Craig Mazin tweeted at several of the sponsors of Carlson’s show, saying that they should be boycotted unless they cut ties with the Fox News host.

“So @SurePayroll advertises on Tucker? Guess I know what I’m doing tonight. Shifting my payroll to another company that doesn’t support total f—ing assholes,” Mazin tweeted, while Cusack called out Disney, Hulu, Amazon, Sandals Resorts and Tivity Health.

“@DesignationSix: Tucker Carlson Justifies Kyle Rittenhouse's murders. We need to boycott cable until they ban Fox News. We can also boycott their sponsors@Disney
You ok with this Disney @hulu
You ok with this ? @TivityHealth @SandalsResorts @amazon
You ok with this ?
— John Cusack (@johncusack) August 27, 2020

So @SurePayroll advertises on Tucker? Guess I know what I’m doing tonight. Shifting my payroll to another company that doesn’t support total fucking assholes. https://t.co/aXit8LP9HK
— Craig Mazin (@clmazin) August 27, 2020

Carlson’s comments came after NBA players boycotted their playoff games on Wednesday night, following the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha over the weekend and several nights of protests.

Blake was shot seven times by a police officer on Sunday, leaving him paralyzed. Protests in several major cities against police violence have taken place this week. On Tuesday night, two people were shot and killed in Kenosha during the third night of unrest following the shooting. Rittenhouse was arrested and charged on Wednesday.

Asked for comment, a Fox News spokesperson referred to a tweet by Carlson:

Kenosha devolved into anarchy because the authorities abandoned the people. Those in charge, from the governor on down, refused to enforce the law. They’ve stood back and watched Kenosha burn. Are we really surprised that looting and arson accelerated to murder? pic.twitter.com/oul2KUiDi3
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) August 27, 2020

The controversy is the latest for the Fox News host, who is a frequent critic of the Black Lives Matter movement. Last month, he took a leave of absence from the show after one of his top writers resigned after making racist and misogynistic posts online.

Other celebrities said Carlson was “advocating for murder” and “inciting violence” on air.

Tucker Carlson advocating murder. https://t.co/oLoPXHrbsA
— N O S ⋊ Ɔ I ᴚ ᴚ Ǝ ᗡ ⊥ ⊥ O Ɔ S (@scottderrickson) August 27, 2020

.@TuckerCarlson you're a festering carbuncle on the anus of Fox News. You're an exploitative, opportunistic racist who has confused being provocative with being good at your job. You'll be remembered as a weak puppet with large pores and a penchant for race-baiting, if at all. https://t.co/MzQSoecIrh
— Natasha Rothwell (@natasharothwell) August 27, 2020

Tucker Carlson supports vigilante teens murdering BLM protestors in cold blood. He believes this is “maintaining order”.
This is what we are up against.
And the lies and misinformation flows fast/furious at the RNC tonite too. #votelikeyourlifedependsonit https://t.co/g1oZ1B7bFJ
— Andrew Zimmern (@andrewzimmern) August 27, 2020

Tucker Carlson, a fan of both My Pillow aNd vigilante justice!
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) August 27, 2020

Unspeakably dangerous. Inciting violence and murder. The lowest Fox has ever gone, though there is no reason to think they won't keep getting worse. https://t.co/rkQPwjFDW5
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) August 27, 2020

PS: fuck you @TuckerCarlson you smug, entitled, trust-funded racist prick.
— Richard Marx (@richardmarx) August 27, 2020

You don't need to read the Kenosha killer’s manifesto…Just turn on Fox News.
In 2018, Tucker Carlson claimed “Terrorism is a largely immigrant phenomena” …. tonight he is defending White Supremacist terrorism.pic.twitter.com/K4Sw7eJCoa
— Rula Jebreal (@rulajebreal) August 27, 2020

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