Fox News’ Tucker Carlson called out the media for its one-sided coverage of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos who has accused the National Enquirer of blackmailing him.
Carlson explained how “the world’s richest man” claims he is the victim of “an extortion plot,” during “Tucker Carlson Tonight” on Friday.
“Not by ISIS or by some international criminal syndicate out of a James Bond movie,” the Fox News host mocked. “But by the National Enquirer, the supermarket tabloid, the one you page through as you’re unloading groceries from your cart.”
Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post, has taken on American Media Inc., the company that owns The National Enquirer, over an exposé detailing the billionaire’s alleged affair with girlfriend Lauren Sanchez, which was published a day after Bezos announced his divorce from his wife of 25 years. Bezos accused the tabloid of “extortion and blackmail” in a blog post on Thursday, claiming they threatened to go ahead with photos and the story unless Bezos agreed to publicly say the piece was not politically motivated.
“These communications cement AMI’s long-earned reputation for weaponizing journalistic privileges, hiding behind important protections, and ignoring the tenets and purpose of true journalism,” Bezos wrote. “Of course I don’t want personal photos published, but I also won’t participate in their well-known practice of blackmail, political favors, political attacks, and corruption. I prefer to stand up, roll this log over, and see what crawls out.”
In a statement, American Media said it believed that it “acted lawfully” but will be looking into the accusations.
“So a lot of confusing parts about this story,” Carlson noted after a report from Fox News correspondent Trace Gallagher updating recent developments.
“But one thing that is crystal clear is where the media stands. Journalists love Jeff Bezos. Now, some of them literally work for him at his personal PR operation/lobbying shop––it’s called The Washington Post,” he added, explaining how even those who do not work for the 55-year-old entrepreneur love him because he is rich.
“Of course, journalists will tell you that their job is to hold the powerful to account,” Carlson mocked. “In real life, they assiduously suck up to power. They can’t help themselves.”
Carlson ran a video montage of examples of the “self-effacing” media praising Bezos as everything from a “badass” to a “hero” for taking on the alleged blackmail against him. One clip showed MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle saying, “A source close to Bezos told me last night, ‘Do not poke this Bezos bear.’”
A graphic showing the billionaire as a bear was then displayed as Carlson continued his mockery.
“Oh, he’s a bear now!” the Fox News host said. “Not a dorky accounting major with an entirely predictable midlife crisis and a sad but obvious steroid problem. No, he’s a powerful masculine bear! A grizzly! Don’t mess with Jeff Bezos! GROWL!”
Carlson went on to ridicule the theories the liberal media have been spouting about how President Donald Trump is “trying to take out Bezos bear with a far-reaching secret conspiracy.” The Amazon CEO even suggested, in his blog, without evidence, that American Media may have been motivated by some connection to the government of Saudi Arabia.
The New York Times noted:
Before and after Mr. Bezos published his revealing post on the online platform Medium, various media outlets gave significant space to competing and sometimes contradictory claims about the possible motives behind American Media’s big story. All of those theories had little to do with the idea that salacious details about the private life of a famous multibillionaire would be of interest to checkout-stand impulse buyers.
“It’s hilarious,” Carlson concluded. “And nauseating.”
Bezos’ personal life unfolding in media headlines comes at a time when his company, Amazon, may be reconsidering its decision to locate its new headquarters in New York City after loacl backlash and opposition, including from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, The Washington Post reported Friday.
New York officials and residents almost immediately criticized the announcement last November to build the headquarters in the Long Island City neighborhood of New York City, warning of the effect on local residents and the community.
Ocasio-Cortez, who represents the Bronx and parts of Queens, cited the Post’s report in a celebratory tweet.
Can everyday people come together and effectively organize against creeping overreach of one of the world’s biggest corporations?
Yes, they can.https://t.co/DqQoL7VH7O
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 8, 2019
Amazon did not confirm that the company is reconsidering the location for the headquarters, which would have 25,000 Amazon employees. And The New York Times reported that the company had no intention to back out of the plans, but was concerned about protests and the state potentially vetoing the effort.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called opposition to the Amazon deal “irresponsible” during an unrelated press conference Friday, CNBC reported.
“For the state Senate to oppose Amazon was governmental malpractice. And if they stop Amazon from coming to New York, they’re going to have the people of New York state to explain it to,” the Democrat said referring to the deal that gives Amazon $3 billion in returned tax credits.
“There is no business that brings 25,000 jobs anymore. They don’t exist. I spend days trying to bring a business that has 100 jobs or 200 jobs,” he said. “Every project has local opposition. … People just oppose change.”
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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