"Vulgar, offensive messages" attacking Fox execs, colleagues led to Carlson's ouster

The private messages in which Mr. Carlson showed disregard for management and colleagues were a major factor in that decision, according to other people familiar with the matter. Although many portions of the Dominion court documents are redacted, there is concern among Fox Corp. executives that if the redacted material were to become public, it would lead to further embarrassment for the network and parent company. …

Inside Fox News, there has been a growing sense that Mr. Carlson couldn’t be managed, and viewed himself as untouchable, people familiar with the company said. Legal documents also revealed Mr. Carlson was unafraid to run roughshod over those whose views or actions he opposed.

[Even if that’s the case — and we’re still only getting one side in these leaks — the move still might be seen as cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face. Carlson has a large following, and even if that doesn’t make him larger than Fox News, it still makes him a potentially formidable competitor. LBJ’s tent analogy might end up applying here. — Ed]