'Absurd': Fox News hits Media Matters with cease and desist over 'unaired' Carlson clips

Days following former Fox News star host Tucker Carlson's firing, the right wing network hit Media Matters with a cease and desist letter, demanding inappropriate "behind-the-scenes" clips of the ex-host be removed immediately, CNN reports.

According to CNN, Fox's letter claimed the "'unaired footage' is its 'confidential intellectual property' and demanded Media Matters 'cease and desist from distribution, publication, and misuse of Fox’s misappropriated proprietary footage, which you are now on notice was unlawfully obtained.'"

CNN reports:

The watchdog group published a video clip on Wednesday showing Carlson speaking to colleagues on set between broadcasts candidly discussing the deposition he gave in Dominion Voting Systems' defamation case against Fox. Carlson referred to a Dominion lawyer as a 'slimy little motherf**ker' and confessed to his producer 'the hate' that he felt for him.

READ MORE: Tucker Carlson exits Fox News

Additionally, the left-leaning watchdog published videos of Carlson slamming the network's streaming service, Fox Nation, as well footage of the former host's vulgar pre-show commentary around sex.

Media Matters President Angelo Carusone responded to the network, saying, "Reporting on newsworthy leaked material is a cornerstone of journalism. For Fox to argue otherwise is absurd and further dispels any pretense that they're a news operation. Perhaps if I tell them that the footage came from a combination of WikiLeaks and Hunter Biden's laptop, it will alleviate their concerns."

READ MORE: Tucker Carlson, Fox News and the problem of faking 'authenticity'

CNN's full report is available at this link.