Tucker Carlson has abruptly and unexpectedly left Fox News, shaking up the cable news landscape. His departure is effective right away.

One of the most well-known and divisive figures on Fox News is the conservative political analyst, whose primetime program Tucker Carlson Tonight was one of the most popular cable news shows.

His departure’s causes aren’t immediately clear. In a brief statement earlier today, Fox News said:

“Tucker Carlson and FOX News Media have mutually decided to separate ways. We appreciate his contributions to the network as a contributor and host.”

The announcement states that Carlson’s departure is immediate and that there won’t be a send-off for him; his final program aired on Friday. Fox News Tonight will take over his 8 PM ET time slot in the interim.

Days before the announcement, Fox News reached a deal with Dominion Voting Systems in a defamation case for $787.5 million. According to the lawsuit, Carlson and other Fox News hosts falsely claimed that the company’s voting devices were set up to favor former president Donald Trump in the 2020 election. It’s unclear if Carlson’s departure had anything to do with that agreement.

Tucker Carlson has played a significant role in conservative politics in recent years. Still, his extreme views on issues like race, LGBTQ rights, and the conflict in Ukraine have made him very divisive.

Many advertisers have stopped supporting his show because he has been accused of promoting conspiracy theories and white nationalist ideologies.

Although he has been involved in controversy, Carlson has consistently produced excellent ratings for Fox News, which have supported him over the years. It is not yet obvious why Carlson and Fox News have decided to part ways so suddenly.

Stay tuned for updates as this story develops. Please spread this breaking news on social media in the interim.