A Fox News spokeswoman is preparing to disclose a dossier of incriminating information about Tucker Carlson if former host criticizes the network after his contentious leave, according to insiders at Fox,
When asked by Rolling Stone about the drastic measures publicist Irena Briganti will use to keep her network’s stars in line when they deviate from Fox’s approved lines, eight people spoke out on the condition of anonymity. A female ex-senior producer has filed a complaint against Carlson, and sources say her “oppo file” on him includes admissions of a sexually charged and discriminating culture among those working for his primetime show.
During discovery for the case launched by Dominion Voting Systems, Carlson’s texts allegedly criticizing network executives were made public. Carlson has recruited entertainment super-lawyer Bryan Freedman to negotiate his exit from Fox.
“Do the executives understand how much credibility and trust we’ve lost with our audience?” asked Carlson in one exchange, adding “A combination of incompetent liberals and top leadership with too much pride to back down is what’s happening.”’
A source has described Briganti as “Fox’s fighter,” and that she has taken the network’s former stars to task for their actions that she believed threatened Fox News’ reputation. Briganti allegedly urged reporters to write about Megyn Kelly’s low ratings and a story Kelly did questioning a star of the popular show Will & Grace and if the show led to him being gay when Kelly left her show in 2017 for a rival network. Kelly has already complained about what she calls Briganti’s “vindictiveness” in taking action against anyone she considers to be disloyal to the company.
Unlike former CNN personality Don Lemon, who was fired on the same day, Carlson expressed astonishment at his dismissal but has so far refrained from openly criticizing the network. Lemon said that the executives of his network were not honest with him about his dismissal, but CNN’s PR staff refuted this.
Rolling Stone detailed some of the contents of the alleged “Oppo file,” provided to the publication through unnamed source:
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 is currently facing a lawsuit from a former senior booking producer, Abby Grossberg, alleging a toxic and misogynist workplace environment. The lawsuit details repeated instances of misogynist behavior at the network, including frequent lewd and sexual discussions of female guests and public figures. Grossberg “continued to endure a work environment that subjugates women based on vile sexist stereotypes, typecasts religious minorities and belittles their traditions, and demonstrates little to no regard for those suffering from mental illness.” Fox denied the allegations when the lawsuit was filed, saying the claims were “without merit.”)
A network representative denied the file on Carlson even existed. “This is patently absurd and categorically false,” the spokesperson said in a statement to Rolling Stone. “We thank Tucker for his service to the network as a host, and prior to that, as a contributor.”
However, a number of sources within the network disagree. “Irena will never be shy about using these things,” says one network source who is familiar with the Carlson-related complaints.
