Tucker Carlson apologizes for cursing out guest — sort of

Fox News host Tucker Carlson is apologizing for a recently leaked expletive-laden rant, but not for the sentiment behind it.

Carlson on his show Wednesday responded to a viral video showing an unaired interview he conducted with historian Rutger Bregman, which went south when Bregman suggested Carlson's opinions were being influenced by Fox News executive chairman Rupert Murdoch and that he is a "millionaire funded by billionaires." This prompted Carlson to call him a "tiny brain" and a "moron" and telling him to "go f--k yourself."

Carlson said Wednesday that it was "too much" when Bregman suggested his "corporate masters tell me what to say." So, Carlson said, he "did what I try never to do on this show: I was rude." At the same time, Carlson argued what he said was "entirely accurate" and that the only reason the interview didn't air was that he cursed during it. He even encouraged viewers to go watch the clip.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

"There is some profanity, and I apologize for that," he said. "On the other hand, it was genuinely heartfelt. I meant it with total sincerity." Watch Carlson's response below. Brendan Morrow