Tucker Carlson is moving on after receiving an unpleasant and unfair firing from Fox News.
His next stop, though, is not there for political reasons. Instead, it involves a noble cause that everyone with a heart can support.
Tucker will be attending a fundraiser in Oxford, Alabama on Thursday, according to 1819 News. At Rainbow Omega, a residential care facility for persons with mental disorders, he will be the keynote speaker.
The Oxford Performing Arts Center will host the charity event.
This is the summary:
Former Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson is headlining next week’s Rainbow Omega annual fundraising event in Oxford.
The event is set for May 4 at 7 p.m. at the Oxford Performing Arts Center.
The proceeds raised from the event will go toward adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Per its website, Rainbow Omega, Inc. was incorporated in 1991. Rainbow Omega opened its first two group homes in 1995 to serve 16 residents. Since then, the institution’s operations have grown to serve 88 individuals.
Rainbow Omega’s stated mission is: “To glorify God by ensuring that adults with developmental disabilities have a permanent and safe home where their abilities and potentials are respected and nurtured in a Christian environment.”
Tim Hodge, Rainbow Omega’s executive director, told Al.com Before leaving Fox News, Tucker was slated to appear.
We actually booked him back last fall. The timing for last week’s announcement was unexpected by anybody.
Tucker’s departure, according to Hodge, has increased interest in the event.
Anytime you have a featured speaker from the world of politics, with our country’s political divide, you can bet there’s a lot of interest. It was kind of an unusual situation. There has been renewed interest.
We’re looking forward to him being here and being part of our fundraiser.
“Speculation has been rampant about where Carlson will end up next. Will he do a show on another network, or launch his own? Will he do a podcast, or maybe run for president,” AL.com added.
Will he announce his plans this week while he’s in Alabama?
“If he announces what he plans to do next, we would have loved to have retroactively known that and promoted that,” Hodge said. “It’s an interesting sequence of events that led to where we are.”
Carlson agreed to speak because it’s a worthwhile cause, Hodge said.
“Rainbow Omega provides services to adults with developmental disabilities,” Hodge said. “We provide residential services, day program services, and also vocational opportunities as well.”
The reason for the removal of Carlson’s program off the airwaves a week ago is still unknown. However, a report published late last week claimed that a new network was interested in signing him and giving him complete creative control.
According to TMZ, Newsmax apparently wants to give Carlson his own primetime show on their network and let him run the whole channel’s schedule. Carlson would then have a lot of power, including the ability to decide what series will air on the network in the future.
“Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … the news channel is doing everything it can to sweeten the deal for Tucker to come on board — including floating the idea of letting him program the whole channel, not just his own show. That would be a pretty enticing deal point … in addition to having his own primetime show, Tucker would have a say over what shows lead into and out of his show, which can be key in achieving bigger TV ratings,” according to TMZ.
“While our sources stress Newsmax hasn’t formally offered Tucker a job — he can’t have formal discussions due to his current Fox News contract — we’re told the network execs have made it clear to people around him, they would basically give him a big say in rebranding their channel,” the outlet continued.
Late in April, speculation started to circulate about the potential replacement for Carlson on Fox News.
Mediaite put out an article titled, “Who Will Replace Tucker Carlson at Fox News? Here Are Mediaite’s Top Picks” which featured a list of potential hosts who might replace Carlson in the highly sought-after 8 PM time slot. Prior to making any final judgments regarding Carlson’s replacement, Fox News declared that it would alternate hosts.
Jesse Watters, Sean Hannity, and Laura Ingraham are the current occupants of the 7 PM ET, 9 PM ET, and 10 PM ET time slots, respectively.
According to Mediaite, Fox News could give Watters, Ingraham, or Hannity the 8 PM time slot by simply switching them about and testing a new host in a later time slot. In this manner, a host with more experience would just take over Carlson’s time slot on the network.
According to a recent survey, former Fox News star Tucker Carlson continues to have greater popularity among Americans than his previous employer.
According to the Rasmussen Reports poll, Carlson continues to have support from conservative and Republican voters. “Fifty-nine percent (59%) of Likely U.S. voters have a favorable impression of Carlson, including 36% who have a Very Favorable opinion of him,” the firm reported.
