Reports indicate that Alexander McCaskill, the former managing editor of Tucker Carlson Tonight at Fox News, has left the network following the controversy surrounding a provocative banner headline about Joe Biden during Donald Trump’s response to his criminal indictment on Tuesday. The banner, or chyron, read “wannabe dictator speaks at the White House after having his political rival arrested,” and its airing prompted criticism from various sources.
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The Daily Beast reported that McCaskill resigned following the banner incident. Fox News addressed the situation, stating that the chyron was taken down immediately and addressed. However, the controversy continued to draw criticism from different angles.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, denounced Fox airing the chyron as “wrong.” Meanwhile, Tucker Carlson, the former Fox host, mentioned on his Twitter show that the banner was displayed for 27 seconds and caused panic among “the women who run the network.”
According to Carlson, the producer responsible for the banner was scolded initially and then resigned less than 24 hours later. Despite offering to stay for the customary two weeks, Fox instructed the producer to clear out their desk and leave immediately. The producer, Alexander McCaskill, had been with Fox News for over a decade and was highly regarded within the organization.
The Guardian reported that McCaskill, who was involved in the chyron controversy, was also mentioned in a lawsuit brought by former Fox talent booker Abby Grossberg. The lawsuit alleges that Fox News, Fox Corp, and employees, including Tucker Carlson, fostered an environment with abusive behaviors.
Grossberg claims she faced religious discrimination from McCaskill, who placed distracting and loud inflatable Christmas decorations in the bookings area, including one near her desk with a sign that read “Hannukah bush.” Grossberg, who is Jewish, considered this display offensive.
The lawsuit further accuses McCaskill of habitually belittling female employees. It states that he made inappropriate remarks suggesting the replacement of the breastfeeding “mother’s room” with a room of tanning beds for male employees to tan their testicles. Grossberg also alleges that McCaskill and another producer, Justin Wells, made comments suggesting that a junior booker should use her sex appeal to obtain interviews.
Fox News has denied the allegations in Grossberg’s lawsuit, stating that it is filled with false claims. However, following their multimillion-dollar settlement in the Dominion Voting Systems defamation case and Carlson’s departure from Fox News, CNN reported that the network was nearing a settlement with Grossberg.
As the situation unfolds, the controversy surrounding the provocative chyron and the subsequent departure of Alexander McCaskill highlights ongoing concerns regarding workplace culture and journalistic integrity at Fox News.
