'Whine brothers': Bitter rivals Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon 'texting' each other after being fired
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Don Lemon and Tucker Carlson may have become friends in the strangest of ways. Lemon, 57, and Carlson, 53, who were fired on the same day within an hour of each other, were reportedly texting each other, sparking speculation about a potential collaboration similar to 'Crossfire'.
Lemon and Carlson were bitter rivals who never missed an opportunity to trash the other on TV, with latter calling the former "dumb and kinds crazy" and Lemon accusing the former Fox News anchor of poisoning his audience with lies. Former CNN media correspondent Brian Stelter said, "They have been texting back and forth in the past few days, according to two sources with knowledge of the relationship," as per Vanity Fair. The two hosts have hired the same entertainment lawyer, Bryan Freedman, to negotiate favorable exits from their respective networks.
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Will Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon collaborate?
Lemon and Carlson were informed they were fired over the phone within 45 minutes of each other on Monday, April 24. Fox News reportedly proposed to release a joint statement with Carlson, but he declined. Lemon too refused when CNN tried to do the same with him.
"It is clear that there are some larger issues at play," Lemon said in his statement. While Carlson did record a video message saying, "See you soon," on Twitter, he did not mention his departure from Fox. However, later, he spoke out against "liars trying to silence" honest people, without specifying who he was referring to.
(Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
What are Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon's future plans?
Despite Carlson's reported $20M a year contract, he may settle for a less in exchange for the flexibility to appear on other networks sooner than Fox may require. Similarly, Lemon's contract is nearly $7M per year and was set to run until 2026, but he may receive a similar amount if he were to leave CNN.
According to Stelter, as Lemon and Carlson were assured multi-million dollar payouts they had not "gone nuclear." "I believe that's because CNN immediately assured Lemon that he would be paid the rest of his contract, and Fox signaled the same to Carlson," he said. He speculated that Carlson might foray into politics while Lemon might give Hollywood a try.
'Two sides of the same coin!'
As soon as the news about Carlson and Lemon broke, people flooded social media with their reactions. A user tweeted, "They’re texting each other? Of course they are. It’s all performance art." Another shared a gif that read, "Its all about the Benjamin's baby!" A third claimed, "OMG, imagine they joined forces and made a show together." A tweet read, "Two sides of the same coin." A user penned, "They could launch a left vs right show together." Another chimed, "Bring back a show like “Firing Line” or “Crossfire”. A user questioned, "? Who texted first, now that would be interesting." "Whine brothers," read another tweet.
They’re texting each other?
— Lynn Pounian (@Panger2023) April 28, 2023
Of course they are. It’s all performance art.
OMG, imagine they joined forces and made a show together. pic.twitter.com/aK0WehCCFD
— When others go low, I go lower. (@DancingInfinit1) April 28, 2023
Bring back a show like “Firing Line” or “Crossfire”.
— CK Grammy... spectator of football (@kzleit) April 29, 2023
? who texted first, now that would be interesting pic.twitter.com/N5AptcCdeI
— laughngstck💙 (@laughngstck) April 29, 2023
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