People familiar with the situation who were not authorized to comment publicly said the decision to fire Carlson came straight from Fox Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch.

Carlson’s exit is related to the discrimination lawsuit filed by Abby Grossberg, the producer fired by the network last month, the people said.

Murdoch is also said to be concerned over Carlson’s coverage of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, in which the host has promoted the conspiracy theory that it was provoked by government agents. Carlson has called Ray Epps — a Texas man who participated in the storming of the Capitol but did not enter the building — an FBI plant, without presenting any evidence.

[The plot thickens. The Epps issue might be setting up another lawsuit, or at least the honchos at Fox might be worried about that possibility. The Abby Grossberg lawsuit seems like a small-potatoes issue given Carlson’s value to the network otherwise. The Washington Post also is reporting that the comments about management uncovered by Dominion’s attorneys were the breaking point. — Ed]