Fox News Media and its top-rated anchor Tucker Carlson have parted ways less than a week after parent firm Fox Corp (FOXA.O) resolved a defamation lawsuit starring Carlson for $787.5 million.

“Tucker Carlson Tonight,” his prime-time show on the most-watched U.S. cable news network, was the highest-rated cable news program in the 25-to-54 age category. Carlson was outspoken and conservative. Fox shares fell 2.9% following Monday’s announcement.

In its complaint, Dominion Voting Systems claimed that Carlson disproved election-fraud charges regarding the voting technology corporation despite privately doubting their veracity.

Carlson is also crucial to Fox’s other legal issues, including a lawsuit brought by his former booking director Abby Grossberg, who claimed Fox compelled her testimony in the Dominion case.

Grossberg last month accused network attorneys of forcing her to provide deceptive evidence and said Fox exposed her and others to pervasive sexism and bigotry. Fox dismissed Grossberg, calling her legal claims “riddled with false allegations against Fox and our employees.”

Carlson’s future and reason for leaving are unknown.

Fox News thanked him for his time as a presenter and contributor. But, unfortunately, Fox lost one of its biggest stars, while sponsors have abandoned Carlson’s show due to his controversies.

Two sources claimed Fox Corp CEO Lachlan Murdoch and Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott decided Friday night to fire Carlson.

A third insider stated Fox News fired “Tucker Carlson Tonight” senior executive producer Justin Wells on Monday.

Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie claimed Carlson’s departure would hurt Fox. “@TuckerCarlson quitting Fox News. The bravest! “Fox lost big,” he tweeted.

After Biden won the 2020 election, hardline Fox competitors like Newsmax gained viewers by questioning the results. Dominion said that Fox officials, from Carlson and the newsroom to the board, knew the assertions about Dominion were untrue but kept airing them to avoid losing viewers.

“For a while Fox News has been moving to become establishment media and Tucker Carlson’s removal is a big milestone in that effort,” Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy said.

Fox fans in conservative West Texas were outraged by Carlson’s dismissal.

“My wife and I were just talking about this, and we think it’s a real bummer they took him off air, because he’s a true conservative voice,” said Mark Gudelman, a 67-year-old retiree shopping at Dollar General in Shallowater, Texas.

After 2020, four conservative Shallowater residents told Reuters they quit watching Fox. Instead, they favored Newsmax or One America News, which they considered more conservative.

Dominion is also suing Newsmax and One America News for false vote-rigging accusations.

The business stated Carlson’s last show was on April 21. “Fox News Tonight” will run live at 8 p.m. EDT on Monday with rotating Fox News hosts until a new host is appointed.

After Carlson’s resignation, a Trump spokeswoman tweeted, “Fox News is controlled opposition.” Carlson interviewed Trump on Fox earlier this month.

On Newsmax on Monday, Trump called Carlson “a very good person and very talented.” He didn’t know if Carlson was fired or resigned.

Republican U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert, a Trump supporter, supported Carlson immediately. “I stand with Tucker Carlson!” she tweeted immediately after the announcement.

Carlson joined Fox News as a contributor in 2009 and co-hosted “Fox & Friends Weekend” in 2012. November 2016 was his prime-time debut. Fox Nation signed a multiyear contract with Carlson in 2021.