“Paternity leave, they call it”
(Picture: Getty Images)Tucker Carlson mocked Pete Buttigieg for taking paternity leave after he and his husband Chasten welcomed newborn twins in August.
During Thursday’s monologue on his show, the Fox News’ presenter took a homophobic jab at the transport secretary by saying he was taking the time to try and “figure out how to breastfeed.”
“Pete Buttigieg has been on leave from his job since August after adopting a child – paternity leave, they call it – trying to figure out how to breastfeed. No word on how that went”, Carlson said.
As Buttigieg is gay, some viewers interpreted that as a homophobic jibe.
The US Department of Transportation confirmed to Politico that Buttigieg had taken paternity leave and “for the first four weeks, he was mostly offline except for major agency decisions and matters that could not be delegated.”
Tucker Carlson mocks Pete Buttigieg for taking paternity leave: "Paternity leave, they call it, trying to figure out how to breastfeed, no word on how that went." pic.twitter.com/zFnp6uSser
— nikki mccann screamírez 👻 (@NikkiMcR) October 15, 2021
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The Fox News host, notorious for his bigoted rants and reinforcing toxic masculinity, was slammed by social media users.
One said, “Can stupid face Tucker Carlson be any more homophobic? What an insecure, disgusting, little shell of man. He will never, ever be a quarter of the man Buttigieg is.”
Another Twitter user joked, “Tucker Carlson was picked last for every game of kickball and now we all have to pay the price for it.”
Pete Buttigieg is an American Hero.
— 💞🕊Heyoka 🕊💞 (@HeyokaEmpath01) October 15, 2021
Tucker Carlson; a homophobic Zero.
I'm glad @SecretaryPete is taking time to care for his new children. All parents deserve paid family leave.
— Scott Huffman for NC 🏴☠️ (@HuffmanForNC) October 15, 2021
In Sweden dads get 11 weeks. 12 in Spain. 35 in Japan.
Willful ignorance and bigotry like Tucker's holds us back. #ncpolhttps://t.co/hVkiCAdN0b
What a worthless clown show joke this guy is. Tucker Carlson could never measure up to Pete Buttigieg. Tuckers jokes are lame and hateful. https://t.co/ZkEmAtyOfh
— Claudell Whatley (@DellaWhatley) October 15, 2021
Outrageous for @FOXTV to support these overt, insulting and ignorant comments from #TuckerCarlson about new father, Pete Buttigieg. https://t.co/zNnE0E5fXQ
— R. Stephen Browning (@BrowningStephen) October 15, 2021
Tucker Carlson & Fox should be ashamed for their very obvious homophobia in their Pete Buttigieg story. But neither will be. Carlson said what he meant. Fox runs his show. Fox's intended audience, mostly, agrees with them.
— Boing Going (@XltBoing) October 15, 2021
But how does hate and derision make this world better?
"Tucker Carlson Torched For Homophobic Comment About Pete Buttigieg’s Paternity Leave”
— ← 𝙇𝙀𝙁𝙏 𝘾𝙊𝘼𝙎𝙏 𝙇𝙄𝘽𝙀𝙍𝘼𝙇 🏄 (@LCLiberal) October 15, 2021
…wait Tucker Carlson is a homobhobic bigot? Who knew
just when I think it's not possible to hate Tucker Carlson any more than I do, he proves me wrong again
— jason dogwood ™️🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🇺🇸👬🏼 (@jasondogwood) October 15, 2021
This whole situation has me triggered. @TuckerCarlson, please ask @PeteButtigieg to come on your show. It will be much fun to watch him torch you with facts, reality, & kindness you don't deserve, you pathetic fool. https://t.co/2PZlfvp3Sv
— Margie Campbell Blackwelder (@margiecb) October 15, 2021
One Twitter user highlighted the irony of Carlon’s colleague taking up Fox News’ paternity leave offer.
They said: “Tucker Carlson mocked Pete Buttigieg for taking paternity leave. Did he also mock his Fox News colleague Todd Piro who took paternity leave in April?”
Fellow Fox News presenter, Todd Piro, took six weeks out to spend time with his baby daughter.
“I cannot thank Fox enough for providing all fathers who work here with such a generous paternity leave,” Piro said earlier in the year.
“This experience has changed me in a profound way and in ways I won’t fully comprehend until my daughter is older.
“But for now – that smile coming from the crib each morning, immediately followed by morning snuggles – is what I will cherish the most. There is nothing better.”
