Tucker Carlson appears to defend writer who quit after anonymous racist comments were exposed

Fox News host Tucker Carlson has seemingly defended his former writer, who quit last week after it was alleged that he wrote racist and misogynistic comments in an online forum before and during his time working on his show.

Blake Neff resigned as Carlson’s top writer on Tucker Carlson Tonight on Friday after he posted racist and misogynistic comments on forum, AutoAdmit, as recently as last week.

In one example, Mr Neff allegedly responded to a racist question posed by another user on the forum which asked if people would let a “JET BLACK congo n*****” perform Lasik eye surgery on them.”

According to CNN, who first reported the allegations, Mr Neff replied: “I wouldn’t get LASIK from an Asian for free, so no,” among numerous other racist and misogynistic comments over a few years.

Responding to his former writer’s comments on his show on Monday, the host said that “what Blake wrote anonymously was wrong.

“We don’t endorse those words. They have no connection to the show. It is wrong to attack people for qualities they cannot control. In this country, we judge people for what they do, not for how they were born.”

Carlson said that Mr Neff is “horrified” and “ashamed” by his recently revealed comments, but the host showed sympathy for his former writer and added that he “has paid a very heavy price”.

He then appeared to defend Mr Neff and criticised those who have praised the writer’s resignation, following the CNN report.

“We should also point out to the ghouls now beating their chests in triumph at the destruction of a young man, that self-righteousness also has its costs,” he said.

“We are all human. When we pretend that we are holy, we are lying. When we pose as blameless in order to hurt other people, we are committing the gravest sin of all. And we will be punished for it. There’s no question.”

Carlson has been accused of making racist remarks on-air on numerous occasions, and recently lost deals with major advertisers after he said that the Black Lives Matter movement “certainly isn’t about Black lives, and remember that when they come for you. And at this rate, they will.”

In a recent interview with Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, Mr Neff spoke about his role at Tucker Carlson Tonight and said: “Anything [Carlson] is reading off the teleprompter, the first draft was written by me.”

Carlson previously praised his former staffer, and in 2018 called him a “wonderful writer” and said Mr Neff helped him with research for his book Ship of Fools.

The host also announced on Monday that he will be on a pre-planned holiday for the rest of the week, with Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade taking over, according to the Hill.

Carlson’s comments came after Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott and President and executive editor Jay Wallace sent a memo to staff on Saturday condemning Mr Neff’s comments.

“We want to make abundantly clear that Fox News Media strongly condemns this horrific racist, misogynistic and homophobic behaviour,” they said. “Neff’s abhorrent conduct on this forum was never divulged on the show or the network until Friday, at which point we swiftly accepted his resignation.”

They added: “Make no mistake, actions such as his cannot and will not be tolerated at any time in any part of our work force.”

The Independent has contacted representatives of Tucker Carlson and Blake Neff for comment.