After Media Matters unearthed tapes of Fox News star Tucker Carlson defending statutory rape, Carlson responded by saying the “naughty” comments were “more than a decade” old. But less than a day later, The Daily Beast surfaced an interview in which Carlson made essentially the same argument — in early 2015.
“There are lots of things you have to play along with in life, and I understand society demands compromises,” Carlson told the future founder of the Proud Boys gang, Gavin McInnes, in an interview, adding: “But there is a limit beyond which I can’t pretend anymore. And calling — in this case, it was a 17-year-old kid — a ‘rape victim’ because a teacher, who wasn’t even that old, or married, was kind enough to initiate him into the ways of adulthood. I’m not just going to sit there.”
(The Daily Beast noted Carlson got many details of the apparent case in question wrong. The outlet initially reported that the interview took place in January 2017, but it was first posted online in 2015.)
He added: “So you’re a 15-,16-, 17-year-old boy. You are driven by biology to procreate, so you are either going to be inflicting your attentions on one of your peers, who let’s be honest is not ready for it; she’s going to get hurt emotionally—90 percent, I mean I’ve never seen a woman—girl—not hurt at that age.”
“Or, you can have a safer, albeit technically illegal outlet, with a woman who knows what she’s doing. You’re not going to hurt her feelings. You know what I mean? This is harm reduction. This is like a needle exchange.”
He added: “I’m not going to pretend that’s rape, because it’s not.”
Fox News spokespeople did not respond to The Daily Beast’s request for comment, nor to TPM’s request.
Tucker, Tucker, Tucker… What do you have in your history…
Post #MeToo are we about to find out?
“initiate him into the ways of adulthood”
I don’t think of myself as that much of a prude, but good God. Among other things, adulthood to me is about more than banging naughties, to say nothing of “initiate”… I need a walk, or more likely a shower.
Talking nasty challenging laws about age of consent (rape) with White Nationalist organizer (since “retired”?)
Quaint. Such the charmer.
I am sure this news will up you favorabiliy ratings with the White Nationalists and incels.
Just what happens in the Carlson household?
Teenage boys, and girls for that matter, have a sex drive - it isn’t a drive “to procreate” - and masturbation or hooking up is the normal way teens deal with it. F*cking teachers or other adults is not.
This is very much like the sick statements from that Milo guy who lost his day job and a book deal.
FTucker needs to lose his show now.The sick reality is that Tucker Carlson probably is jealous of the Jeffs of the World. Subservient young women, staying at home, with no opinions, too young to be able to realize how fucked up it all is. It is right up his ally, and probably the core of his view ship (not the young women, the old dumb white dudes who yearn for the good old days).