Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch had calls with President Zelensky on March anniversary of Fox reporters' deaths - after senior Ukrainian officials complained about Tucker Carlson's war coverage

  • Tucker was fired in April after covering the war in Ukraine on his show for a year
  • He was unreserved in his criticism of Zelensky, who he called a 'dictator' 
  • Fox has not given a specific explanation for Carlson's sudden departure  

By Jen Smith, Chief Reporter For Dailymail.Com

Published: | Updated:

Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch both spoke with President Zelensky in March this year on the anniversary of two Fox reporters' warzone deaths, while Tucker Carlson continued to trash the war effort on his now defunct show. 

Carlson was unceremoniously fired by Fox in April after hosting its most popular show for seven years. 

Fox is yet to explain the move, but insiders say it was largely down to a growing impatience among bosses for Tucker's insubordination - he trashed senior executives in private text messages that were revealed as part of the Dominion lawsuit. 

His opinion of the war in Ukraine and America's steadfast support of Zelensky was unfavorable, and pushed senior Ukrainian officials to complaint, according to a report in Semafor today. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week. He spoke with both Rupert Murdoch and Lachlan Murdoch in March

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week. He spoke with both Rupert Murdoch and Lachlan Murdoch in March

The calls are said to have mostly been about the death of two Fox News reporters last March. Lachlan (left) also spoke with Zelensky

The calls are said to have mostly been about the death of two Fox News reporters last March. Lachlan (left) also spoke with Zelensky 

Neither Lachlan nor Rupert spoke about Carlson during their calls with Zelensky in March, according to Semafor's sources. 

Instead, the discussions centered instead around the deaths of Fox News reporters who were killed while reporting on the conflict. 

Pierre Zakrzewski, 55, and Oleksandra Kuvshinova, 24, were killed when their vehicle was struck. 

Carlson was unreserved in his criticism of Zelensky on-air. 

While the rest of the media largely fawned to him, Carlson in one December broadcast called hima  'dictator'. 

'In fact, Zelenskyy is far closer to Lenin than to George Washington. 

Tucker was fired in April after covering the war in Ukraine on his show for a year, though his opinion of the conflict is not what led to his firing. He was however unreserved in his criticism of Zelensky, who he called a 'dictator'

Tucker was fired in April after covering the war in Ukraine on his show for a year, though his opinion of the conflict is not what led to his firing. He was however unreserved in his criticism of Zelensky, who he called a 'dictator'

Pierre Zakrzewski (right) and Oleksandra Kuvshynova (center) were killed in Ukraine while they were traveling in a vehicle involved in the same attack which left a British journalist injured

Pierre Zakrzewski (left) and Oleksandra Kuvshynova (centre) were killed in Ukraine while they were travelling in a vehicle involved in the same attack which left a British journalist injured

He is a dangerous authoritarian who has used a hundred billion in U.S. tax dollars to erect a one-party police state in Ukraine,' he said. 

It remains unclear what senior News Corp executives thought of his approach. 

His firing has been largely attributed to text messages that had been private, but became public as part of the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit against Fox. 

Carlson railed against bosses in those messages, calling one a 'c**t', according to some reports, and was prepared for those remarks to become public. 

Tucker has not given any explanation for his firing. 

Volodymyr ZelenskyLachlan Murdoch

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