New reports are suggesting that Tucker Carlson's private text messages, which were revealed as part of the Dominion Voting Systems defamation lawsuit against Fox News, played a role in the leading prime-time host's ouster from the cable news giant. The Wall Street Journal reports that Carlson's explicit comments about Fox leadership and worry over reporters fact-checking former President Trump's false claims about voter fraud angered Fox's massive audience - comments that were known to senior Fox management. In one of the redacted messages, Carlson reportedly referred to a senior female Fox News executive as the c-word. He was also seen badmouthing former President Trump and his allies, and told colleagues that his remarks about Trump were "said during a momentary spasm of anger, while his dislike of this executive was deep and enduring." Fox News agreed to pay Dominion $787.5 million to settle the case just before opening arguments were set to begin. Carlson has not commented publicly on his departure from Fox as of Wednesday morning.