Following the racially-motivated massacre of 10 people in a grocery store in Buffalo, New York last week, Fox News host Tucker Carlson attempted to peddle back on his well-known views about "replacement theory," the concept that pushed the suspect to kill in Buffalo.
That suspect, 18-year old Payton Gendron, penned a 180-page manifesto which featured extremist and racist views including references to the "replacement theory." This theory is, primarily, the idea that Democrats are attempting to replace white constituents until the entire voting population is entirely people of color. Those who endorse this idea suggest that this is the motivation behind left-leaning immigration policy and reform.
Now that the danger of pushing this theory has come to fruition, Carlson is acting like he, himself, wasn't a subscriber to "replacement theory."
Although Carlson denies even knowing what the theory entails, a New York Times investigation revealed that Carlson has cited the theory over 400 times on air.
In the same broadcast that he declined to understand the theory, he details the concept almost exactly, saying:
"The Democratic Party has decided that rather than convince you, people who are born here, that their policies are helping you and making the country better and stronger, they will change the electorate."
"The Democratic Party has decided that rather than convince you, people who are born here, that their policies are helping you and making the country better and stronger, they will change the electorate."pic.twitter.com/y7k72paUSA— Kat Abu (@Kat Abu) 1652833055
Viewers noticed.
One person said:
"It's not just that Tucker Carlson pretended not to know what 'great replacement theory' was."
"It's that he then immediately started trying to pitch great replacement theory."
It's not just that Tucker Carlson pretended not to know what "great replacement theory" was. It's that he then immediately started trying to pitch great replacement theory.https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/05/18/tucker-carlson-plays-dumb-replacement-theory-and-then-espouses-it/\u00a0\u2026— Philip Bump (@Philip Bump) 1652929407
Someone else tweeted:
After the Buffalo massacre killer quoted the same white replacement theory that Tucker Carlson shared for years on FoxNews, Tucker Carlson is cornered and lying.
After the Buffalo massacre killer quoted the same white replacement theory that Tucker Carlson shared for years on FoxNews, \n\nTucker Carlson is cornered and lying.pic.twitter.com/i8YKJz50wl— Christine Pelosi (@Christine Pelosi) 1652969218
This person lamented:
"The GOP talking point today seems to be we don’t know what the Great Replacement Theory is."
"Tucker Carlson doesn’t know what it is."
"Ron Johnson doesn’t know what it is."
"Their gaslighting knows no bounds."
The GOP talking point today seems to be we don\u2019t know what the Great Replacement Theory is. \n\nTucker Carlson doesn\u2019t know what it is. Ron Johnson doesn\u2019t know what it is. \n\nTheir gaslighting knows no bounds.— Amy Siskind \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Amy Siskind \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1652833521
Fox News BARELY mentioned the white gunman\u2019s alleged reasoning for opening fire at a supermarket- That is awfully noticeable after Tucker Carlson pushed the concept of replacement theory in more than 400 of his shows.\n\nCancel Fox News.— Jon Cooper (@Jon Cooper) 1652802604
Some people are saying that Fox News and Carlson are legally to blame for what happened.
This person tweeted:
"When will the class action law suits against @TuckerCarlson and @foxnews be filed?"
When will the class action law suits against @TuckerCarlson and @foxnews be filed?— kimRN (@kimRN) 1652564642
Somone else said:
"There needs to be some accountability for Tucker Carlson pushing Great Replacement theory."
"He is stoking deadly consequences."
There needs to be some accountability for Tucker Carlson pushing Great Replacement theory.\n\nHe is stoking deadly consequences.— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@BrooklynDad_Defiant!) 1652588032
Another said:
when are the lawsuits gonna be filed against fox news?— Magic 1 \ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddfd (@Magic 1 \ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddfd) 1652562816
This shooting is partially on your head @TuckerCarlson @FoxNews— DemocracyHeld \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@DemocracyHeld \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1652562327
Many are calling Carlson out, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer who said he declined an interview with the Fox host.
He condemned Carlson's promotion of the theory, saying:
"@TuckerCarlson invited me on his show tonight to debate the letter I sent to @FoxNews."
"I'm declining."
"Tucker Carlson needs to stop promoting the racist, dangerous ‘Replacement Theory’."
.@TuckerCarlson invited me on his show tonight to debate the letter I sent to @FoxNews.\n\nI'm declining. Tucker Carlson needs to stop promoting the racist, dangerous \u2018Replacement Theory\u2019.— Chuck Schumer (@Chuck Schumer) 1652810316
Schumer reiterated this message on the Senate floor Monday, saying that Fox News commentators have been spreading messages to their audience that "eerily mirrors the messages found in replacement theory."
