Rupert Murdoch TRIGGERED by Tucker Carlson’s ‘spiritual talk’—anti-Christian sentiment may have led to firing: report

The source told Vanity Fair that Murdoch made the decision to remove Carlson following the comments made during a speech Carlson made at the Heritage Foundation’s 50th Anniversary gala on Friday night.

Vanity Fair reported, "Carlson laced his speech with religious overtones that even Murdoch found too extreme, the source, who was briefed on Murdoch’s decision-making, said."

During this speech, Carlson told the crowd that politics had become a battle between "good" and "evil," and said the answer to this was "prayer."

“I have concluded it might be worth taking just 10 minutes out of your busy schedule to say a prayer for the future, and I hope you will,” Carlson said.

“That stuff freaks Rupert out. He doesn’t like all the spiritual talk,” the source told the outlet.

The source added that Murdoch was potentially "unnerved" by Carlson’s comments because it echoed those views of his former fiancee Ann Lesley-Smith.

According to the outlet, Murdoch and Smith called off their two-week engagement earlier this spring because Smith had told others that Carlson was a "messenger from God."

The source said that in late March, Carlson attended dinner with Murdoch and Smith at the Fox head’s Bel Air vineyard, during which Smith pulled out a bible and started reading a passage from Exodus.

"Rupert just sat there and stared,” the source said.

Vanity Fair reported, "A few days after the dinner, Murdoch and Smith called off the wedding. By taking Carlson off the air, Murdoch was also taking away his ex’s favorite show."

On Monday, Fox News released a statement saying that the news network and its star host were "parting ways."

The statement reads: "Mr. Carlson’s last program was Friday April 21st. Fox News Tonight will air live at 8 PM/ET starting this evening as an interim show helmed by rotating FOX News personalities until a new host is named."

Following the announcement, Fox Corporation’s stock plummeted as much as 5 percent on Monday, wiping out $930 million in market value.