The two cable news hosts separated from their now-former networks on Monday, FNC’s Tucker Carlson and CNN’s Don Lemon, each hired the same prominent attorney as they navigate their departures from their respective networks. While any legal battles between Lemon and CNN or Tucker and Fox News are yet to be announced, the high-power and high-profile council they retained could be a sign of fights to come, or attempts to gain leverage for upcoming negotiations.
The attorney both men hired is Bryan Freeman, an entertainment litigator who has represented numerous clients in the industry, including actors, directors, producers, and production companies. Freedman is known for the aggressive and tenacious approach that he brings to litigation, one that will surely be a headache for either Fox News Channel or CNN if negotiations turn to litigation.
Further, Freedman is no stranger to the spotlight. He has represented numerous celebrities, including Terry Crews and Ellen DeGeneres, and was involved in representing actor Armie Hammer in a recent sexual assault lawsuit.
Additionally, and likely more relevant to Don Lemon and Tucker Carlson, Freedman has been involved in numerous defamation and privacy cases, which could be helpful experience if they need to battle their networks and fight off scandalous, defamatory allegations.
Forbes, reporting on Freedman’s career in its article on his being hired by Lemon and Tucker, reported that Freedman has handled similar cases, such as Megyn Kelly’s messy departure from NBC, and one of his more famous wins came when he won a payout for a client fired for comments deemed offensive, something that could likely help out Tucker Carlson. In that outlet’s words:
Freedman, based out of Los Angeles, boasts a list of clients like former Bachelor host Chris Harrison, film director Quentin Tarantino and actress Gabrielle Union, while his law firm’s website refers to him as “the go to lawyer in crisis litigation.”
Freedman has dealt with messy news separations before—he represented Megyn Kelly after NBC fired her in 2019, reaching an agreement with the network to pay her contract in full despite an early termination, securing Kelly roughly $30 million.
Perhaps Freedman’s most notable win came two years later, when he worked to secure a $10 million payout for Harrison after ABC dropped him as Bachelor host over comments he made defending a contestant’s decision to attend a Confederate-themed party.
FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways. We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor.
Mr. Carlson’s last program was Friday April 21st. Fox News Tonight will air live at 8 PM/ET starting this evening as an interim show helmed by rotating FOX News personalities until a new host is named.
FOX News Media operates the FOX News Channel (FNC), FOX Business Network (FBN), FOX News Digital, FOX News Audio, FOX News Books, the direct-to-consumer streaming services FOX Nation and FOX News International and the free ad-supported television service FOX Weather. Currently the number one cable network, FNC has been the most watched television news channel for more than 21 consecutive years, while FBN ranks among the top business channels on cable. Fox Corporation owns FOX News Media, which reaches nearly 200 million people monthly.
Don Lemon, to announce his firing, said, “I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN. I am stunned. After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly. At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network. It is clear that there are some larger issues at play. With that said, I want to thank my colleagues and the many teams I have worked with for an incredible run. They are the most talented journalists in the business, and I wish them all the best.”
CNN disputed that claim, with CNN Communications tweeting, “Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”
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