The Facebook page SpaceX Fanclub, on July 16, 2024, published a meme claiming, “ABC Signs A $400 Million Deal With Tucker Carlson For A Late-Night Show,” which was apparently set to replace late-night talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
(SpaceX Fanclub/Facebook)
The post went viral, as of this writing, receiving 17,000 comments, with many commenters replying to SpaceX Fanclub’s image, apparently either believing the claim or hoping it was authentic.
“Excellent, he was awesome at republican convention!!!” one user commented, while another responded, “That would be smart of ABC, so I don’t have much hope of this being true. These leftist fascist organizations would can never handle true journalism and would want to censor Tucker and he’s better off in his own, spreading truth or at least provoking thought and asking better questions to those of us who will not kowtow to the deceiving controlling left.”
Not everyone believed the news was real. For instance, one commenter wrote, “I would be TOTALLY SURPRISED if this is TRUE AT ALL REMEMBER ABC ,NBC,CBS, CNN, MSNBC , are ALL JUST ARMS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY and the TRUTH IS NOT IN THEM !”
The post linked to a July 16, 2024, esspots.com article claiming ABC had reportedly signed such a deal with Carlson:
Breaking: ABC Signs A $400 Million Deal With Tucker Carlson For A Late-Night Show, “Going to Replace Jimmy Kimmel Show”
In an unexpected move that has left media enthusiasts and political pundits buzzing, ABC has reportedly signed a $400 million deal with Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host, to headline a new late-night show. This new program is set to replace “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” which has been a fixture of ABC’s late-night lineup for nearly 20 years. The decision marks a significant shift in the network’s programming strategy and has sparked a wide range of reactions across the political and entertainment landscapes.
Tucker Carlson, well-known for his fiery conservative commentary and prime-time presence on Fox News, is now making a surprising transition to ABC. This move is particularly striking given ABC’s traditionally centrist reputation. The network’s decision to bring Carlson into their late-night slot reflects a broader trend in television where networks are taking bold steps to attract diverse audiences and boost sagging ratings.
The timing of this announcement coincides with a period of significant change in the late-night television scene. Traditional late-night shows are struggling with declining viewership as more audiences turn to streaming platforms and online content. By bringing in Carlson, ABC appears to be banking on his ability to draw a new demographic of viewers who feel underserved by the current late-night offerings.
Tucker Carlson has built a loyal following through his uncompromising conservative views and sharp political analysis. His show on Fox News, “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” consistently ranked as one of the highest-rated cable news programs, pulling in millions of viewers each night. Carlson’s knack for tapping into the concerns and sentiments of a significant portion of the American populace has made him a powerful media figure.
Claim – ABC signed a $400 million deal with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson to replace Jimmy Kimmel in a late-night talk show.
However, the claim was not real and came from sources that are satirical in nature. The Facebook post from Space X Fanclub carried a “Rated Satire” label stamped in the top-left corner of the meme, while the account describes itself thusly: “We post SATIRE, nothing on this page is real.”
In addition, its affiliated website, Esspots, described itself as specializing in satire.
As Per Esspots’ “Disclaimer” page:
Welcome to Esspots.com, a website that specializes in satire, parody, and humor. Before you proceed to read our content, we would like to emphasize that nothing on this website is real. All of the articles, stories, and commentary found on Esspots.com are entirely fictitious and created for the purpose of entertainment only.
We understand that satire can sometimes be mistaken for actual news or events, but we want to make it clear that we do not publish factual or accurate information. We do not intend to deceive or mislead our readers in any way, and all of our content should be taken with a grain of salt.
To add, neither Carlson nor ABC had released a statement regarding the claim. Carlson hosted his nightly titular political talk show on Fox News from 2016 until 2023, when he was reportedly dismissed by then-chairman of Fox Corporation, Rupert Murdoch.
Carlson gave a speech at the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2024.
Conclusion: I labeled Satire.
