Tucker Carlson doubled-down Monday night against his critics who reacted to a compilation of decade-old radio interviews published by Media Matters for America in which the host made various disparaging comments toward women.
In a monologue on Monday’s “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” the conservative commentator said he would never “bow to the mob,” adding that Fox News stands behind him.
“Fox News is behind us, as they have been since the very first day. Toughness is a rare quality at a TV network, and we are grateful for that,” Carlson said. “We will never bow to the mob, ever, no matter what.”
Carlson added that he would never be pressured into apologizing but would only due so if he genuinely believed himself in the wrong.
On Sunday and into Monday, Carlson faced a cascade of outrage on Twitter over remarks he made between 2006 and 2011 to the Florida radio shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge. On set Monday evening, Carlson said the remarks had been said in jest or taken out of context.
In a statement issued late Sunday evening, Carlson did concede the language had been “naughty,” but said anyone upset was welcome to appear on his show to air their grievances.
“Media Matters caught me saying something naughty on a radio show more than a decade ago,” Carlson said “Rather than express the usual ritual contrition, how about this: I’m on television every weeknight live for an hour. If you want to know what I think, you can watch. Anyone who disagrees with my views is welcome to come on and explain why.”
The host is currently facing a boycott of more than two dozen advertisers, a group that was joined by pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca on Monday.
Carlson’s monologue stating that his network supported him aligns with multiple past statements the Fox News has issued in defense of him and fellow embattled host Laura Ingraham.
In a statement to TheWrap Monday morning, Media Matters president Angelo Carusone said that more Carlson recordings were coming.
“The other material is similarly vile,” Carusone said. “The next one will help give some additional insight into Tucker’s worldview vis-a-vis race and ethnicity.”